GAS AND GEAR DEAL GIVES AUTOMOTIVE APPRENTICES HEAD START

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GAS AND GEAR DEAL GIVES AUTOMOTIVE APPRENTICES HEAD START
12 September 2006 - BOC Gases

The crème of the UK's aspiring motor technicians will have state-of-the-art welding gas and equipment to train with thanks to a two year agreement between BOC Industrial and Thatcham, the UK's authority on all things motor repair.

Thatcham offers three technical apprenticeships through its apprentice centre including a vehicle body panel technical certificate where amongst other topics, apprentices learn the theory and practice of spot and MIG welding as well as how to prepare, test and maintain welding equipment.

Under the agreement apprentices will have access to the full range of BOC welding gases, safety gear, BOC welding equipment designed and manufactured to strict BOC specifications including BOC MIG welding machines, flashback arrestors and regulators. The agreement includes a strong emphasis on BOC safety training procedures, equipment, PPE as well as access to specialist technical guidance.

BOC Industrial marketing director, Dynes Woodrow said: “Because the repair sector is continually changing to meet the demands of manufacturers and insurers for safe, efficient motor repair, BOC works with automotive customers to develop products and services that meet that need and help them grow their business.

Said Woodrow: “There is a clear and present need to address the national skills shortage in the motor industry and this agreement represents the ideal learning partnership, combining Thatcham’s expert tutoring with BOC’s state-of-the-art welding gas and equipment.

“Providing safe, well regulated hands-on experience with tools and techniques gives apprentices valuable skills they can use and refine in the workplace. Experience also shows that investing in training can help body repair shops improve their turnover.”

Woodrow added: “The link with Thatcham has extra value for BOC as it gives an understanding of new repair techniques designed for manufacturers such as BMW, VW and Renault as they are developed in the research centre.”

The agreement has already opened up possibilities for further co-operation between the two organisations. These include:

• BOC seminars on the safe handling, storage and transport of welding gases;
• gas and BOC branded welding equipment for all entrants in the sought after Craft Awards 2006. The panel beating award winner will take away a top-of-the-range BOC branded MIG welding machine;
• preferential pricing for Thatcham technical support subscribers (up to 30% discount in some instances) on a range of BOC consumables, equipment and refrigerant gases for vehicle cooling systems;
• Membership of a Thatcham led working party to establish a national standard for UK repair shops, including approved welding products and repair services.

Said Woodrow: “BOC is proud to be associated with Thatcham. Through supporting young apprentices and understanding the work of the research centre BOC can keep abreast of trends in manufacturing and repair and ensure welding, gas and equipment remain integral to both.”

http://www.boc.com

About: BOC Gases
Through its PGS line of business, BOC supplies gas and related solutions to the chemicals, petroleum, glass, water services, electronic packaging, fibre optics, hydrogen energy, metals and food industries. BOC helps meet customer needs in a variety of ways, from the supply of a single gas or application through to designing, constructing and operating fully integrated gas and utilities schemes.

The BOC Group, which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, is one of the largest and most global of the world's leading gases companies. It employs some 44,500 people worldwide and had annual sales of over £4.3 billion in 2003. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the Internet at www.boc.com

The BOC Group has an international portfolio of companies grouped for management control and reporting into three lines of business: Process Gas Solutions, Industrial and Special Products, and BOC Edwards. It also has a specialist logistics business, Gist.

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