Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd

Manufacturing Insight: A Day in The Life of a Sprayer at Frederick Cooper

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 03/12/2020

Frederick Cooper offers high-quality component powder coating and paint spraying for leading industries in UK Manufacturing. For those considering a role in manufacturing, Frederick Cooper has offered insight into a day in the life of one of their professional Sprayers, Sam Rowe who helps produce their ‘top of the class’ finishes for their customer's components.

The day starts when Sam gets into her overalls, gloves and mask and performs a quick check on the paint gun.

After having checked this and received the paint she then scans the process card (a form outlining the steps required on this project to achieve a quality finish) to see if there is anything tricky about the job she will be spraying – whether a certain side has to be sprayed last or whether there are any care points to be aware of. After signing the job card, Sam can then set the paint gun to begin spraying.

There are so many different spraying jobs with their own subtleties. Therefore, if Sam gets a job that she doesn’t see very often, it’s easier to stop and check rather than spray the whole component and find out that a crucial part has been overlooked. When the job is complete, she then signs the process card to identify the job has been completed.

Helping save the environment and the company costs, any waste paint is poured back into the tub. Sam then takes her paint gun apart to give it a good clean before the next job.

There are some jobs that sprayers like Sam can only do in the afternoon such as high-end full gloss parts or parts that stay ‘tacky’ for a long time, therefore these jobs are done after lunchtime. Sam Rowe said whilst paint spraying can sound repetitive, it is a great feeling of accomplishment once a part is finished:

“You find yourself becoming obsessed with the components you work on, my friends and family soon get tired when I point out brake calipers or electronic parts, proudly saying I did that!”

Finally, after a productive day of spraying crucial components for lots of different industries, Sam cleans down their gun thoroughly to ensure it is ready for the new job in the morning.

£500 Raised for The Atlas Foundation

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 10/11/2021

On Saturday the 30^th October, we were honoured to be Kenilworth RFC’s matchday sponsor in their Midlands 1 West game against Malvern RFC. We also welcomed The Parliamentary Lions who attended the lunch as part of a training weekend, ahead of touring South Africa early next year.

The dinner raised over £500 with all proceeds going to Jason Leonard’s Atlas Foundation, that provides opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged children across the world in order to give them the chance to thrive.

We’d like to thank Neon our recruitment partner who were very generous in donating a raffle prize which helped contribute to the money raised.

Our Managing Director Jon Stone had this to say, “We’d like to thank Kenilworth RFC for hosting us on what was a fantastic day for Kenilworth Rugby Club, The money raised was for a great cause, the rugby show on the pitch was a pleasure to watch and the Frederick Cooper family had a brilliant time.”

The night before, three FCB employees (Jon Stone, Jez Noon and Andrew Fox) ventured out with the Kenilworth Pirates (Vets) for a thoroughly enjoyable game against local rivals.

We wish Kenilworth all the best for the rest of the season and we’ll be back down soon.

Frederick Cooper Birmingham supports Birmingham City Mission, Toy- Link Appeal

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 09/12/2019

Staff, customers and suppliers at Bordesley Green-based, Frederick Cooper Birmingham Ltd. are collecting Christmas presents for underprivileged children across the City who would otherwise miss- out this Christmas.

Frederick Cooper has been trading in the Bordesley Green area for nearly 40 years and has always looked to support the communities in which many of our team members live.

The Birmingham City Mission’s (BCM) Toy-Link appeal provides thousands of children across Birmingham, who would otherwise miss out, with presents at Christmas. Steve Walker, Sales Manager at Frederick Cooper recommended the charity for internal consideration and said; ‘Christmas for me is about seeing the happiness in a child’s face when they see what they have received from Santa. I came across the Birmingham City Mission Christmas activity, and thought what better charity for Frederick Cooper to spread a little Christmas cheer. If just one of our donations makes a difference and inspires the life of a young person, we’ll be very happy.’

On Frederick Cooper’s support for their Toy Link appeal, Wes Erpen, Chief Executive of Birmingham City Mission said; ‘We are very grateful to Frederick Cooper as we are to all those companies and individuals that support us and the work we do. Every Christmas BCM distributes gifts to thousands of children in our city who would otherwise not receive presents. It is a mammoth task that relies on the generosity of many people who give toys, energy and time to ensure each child referred to us receives a sack of gifts on Christmas morning.’

Commenting on the appeal as a whole, Jon Stone, Sales Director at Frederick Cooper said,

‘We are proud to be supporting BCM and the fine work they do across the City. Toys have already started coming in and I am very grateful to our amazing colleagues, customers and suppliers for their support. As much as this provides a great opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves, projects like this really serve to bring our people from across our network closer together, under a common goal. Building such relationships can only be good for business and good for everyone in the long term.’

If you would like to get involved and donate some toys to their christmas campaign, you can either drop the toys in at their head-office or post them to the following address: Frederick Cooper Ltd,44 Prince Albert Street, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, B9 5AZ

For more information on how you can support this appeal visit www.frederickcooper.co.uk

Frederick Cooper - Reward and Recognition

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 12/02/2024

? Congratulations to Gurdeep Panesar, recipient of the Frederick Cooper Birmingham Recognition and Reward award for maintaining perfect attendance throughout January! ? Gurdeep's punctuality has earned him an extra Friday as annual leave to enjoy later this year. ?️

? We've witnessed an improvement in attendance, and we believe in acknowledging and rewarding the hard work of our brilliant team whenever the opportunity arises.

? #EmployeeRecognition #TeamSuccess #HardWorkPaysOff ?

MOVEMBER 2021

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 01/12/2021

It's the end of #movember and we had to marvel our Managing Directors "tasche" in all it's glory. He will be clean shaven again, much to the sadness of our business!

The conversations generated around mental health is the real winner. Make sure you check in on your mates. It's OK to not be OK.

To everyone else who tackled the itchy upper lip, we salute you!

JON STONE - MANAGING DIRECTOR

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 11/06/2021

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd has promoted its Sales Director, Jon Stone, to the position of Managing Director with Tony Jones moving to the role of Group Managing Director.

With over two decades of experience with the company, Jon will oversee the continued growth of Frederick Cooper in the UK.

Since joining the company in 1997, Jon has progressed through the business in a number of roles, most recently as Sales Director for FCB, establishing our footprint within the automotive finishing market, delivering high quality painted components.

Speaking on his promotion, Jon said: “I’m looking forward to continuing the great work Tony has done and to lead the business by growing and developing our brand in new markets as well as continuing to strengthen our customer relationships.

“The pandemic has really changed the way our relationship with our customer works, and Frederick Cooper has adapted hard and fast. New opportunities and new challenges have continued to open up, and I am excited to tackle them head on by developing our range of skills and investing in our people, plant and equipment. We aim to build on the high level of service we offer cementing us as a dominant player in the wet paint and powder coating industry.”

Frederick Cooper Recognise Team Achievement

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 21/03/2018

It has been a busy start to the year for the Frederick Cooper quality team. We are very proud to announce our achievement of ISO4001:2015 certification, part of an ongoing business objective to reduce the companys environmental footprint.

ISO14001 is an internationally accepted standard that sets out how to put in place an effective Environmental Management System (EMS) it is relevant to every organisation, from a single site to a large multi-national company. The aim is to reduce the environmental footprint of a business and decrease the pollution and waste a business produces whilst at the same time maintaining (or increasing) profitability. This is done by identifying the aspects of the business that impact the environment and set objectives for improvement, then implementing them.

For the full story visit http://bit.ly/2IGcSXN

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 08/03/2022

Happy International Womens Day. Our business is full of inspiring women who push our business forward everyday. We're proud to be a business in manufacturing with a 48% shopfloor headcount of amazing female colleagues. They are instrumental in the fantastic work we do.

We celebrate you and all that you do for our business.

#beatthebias
#internationalwomensday2022
#iwd2022
#womeninskills
#internationalwomensday

FCB FC are looking for companies to play football with!

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 15/03/2023

? Attention all companies! ?

Do you have employees who like a kick about? Do they like to keep active and have some fun at the same time? Then let's talk!

We're on the hunt for companies who want to join us for some 5, 6 or 7 aside football matches on a Friday afternoon. Whether you're an experienced team or just starting out, the emphasis is on having a great time and staying active.

If this sounds like something your company would be interested in, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Luke Allsopp at luke@frederickcooper.co.uk.

Let's kick off (pun intended) some fun together! ⚽️?‍♂️?

#football #companies #fitness #fun #5aside #kickabout

Toy-Link Appeal 2021

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 24/11/2021

We are delighted working for the third year in partnership with the Birmingham City Mission (BCM) charity, with the aim of providing Christmas presents to children who would otherwise go without.

2021 has been tough for everyone but especially those in at risk groups and for whom life is a struggle, and that’s even before the pandemic. Let’s all do what we can to spread a little cheer this Christmas.

YOU CAN DONATE IN TWO WAYS!

DONATE PRESENTS
If you’d like to donate a present please contact Luke Allsopp for more details.

MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION
We will be collecting money throughout the month of December. All monies collected will be used to purchased additional presents Again, please contact Luke Allsopp for more information.

ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF BIRMINGHAM, THANK YOU AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Frederick Cooper Welcomes The Armstrong Group to the Made in the Midlands Family

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 10/11/2023

Frederick Cooper, a leading provider of high-quality wet paint finishes for the automotive industry, is delighted to welcome our esteemed friends, the Armstrong Group, to the vibrant community of Made in the Midlands.

The Armstrong Group, based in Coventry, have been making significant strides in the world of manufacturing, offering a comprehensive range of services that encompass concept support, design, development, engineering, prototyping, and production. Their expertise spans across various materials, including aluminium, steel, and composite materials, and they excel in both exterior and interior trim applications. Their commitment to quality and innovation is truly commendable, making them a valuable asset in the Midlands manufacturing landscape.

Frederick Cooper is proud to collaborate with the Armstrong Group in delivering superior paint finishes for the automotive sector. Our partnership is based on our shared commitment to meeting only the highest standards. By combining their outstanding manufacturing capabilities with our expertise in wet paint finishes, we are confident in our ability to provide top-notch solutions to the automotive industry.

Together, we see a future that is marked by innovation, precision, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

We extend our warmest welcome to the Armstrong Group as they become an integral part of the Made in the Midlands community. We look forward to an exciting journey of growth, collaboration, and achievement.

For more information about Frederick Cooper and the Armstrong Group, please visit our respective websites:

Frederick Cooper: www.frederickcooper.co.uk

Armstrong Group (UK) 2023 Limited: www.armstrong-group.uk

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR HR PROFESSIONAL TO JOIN THE TEAM

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 01/08/2022

Following an exciting phase of growth, Birmingham based, coatings specialists Frederick Cooper Birmingham are delighted to announce a HR and Payroll Manager vacancy at our Bordesley Green site.

We have big ambitions for our colleagues and the future of the organisation which include further growth and the roll-out of the new Frederick Cooper (Training) Academy that will support new and existing colleagues to be the best they can be.

Reporting to the Operations Director, this position will suit a hands-on HR generalist with a passion for HR and Payroll, and you will be responsible for daily, end-to-end delivery of HR operations.

You will have a working knowledge of employment law and best practices; as well as experience of working collaboratively with others to achieve success. You will inspire trust and confidence by maintaining strong relationships with our growing internal team and external temporary workforce.

Frederick Cooper Birmingham is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, colour, age, gender, sexuality, or disability.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO APPLY

REPTON MAKE NATIONAL FINALS.

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 17/12/2021

We are very proud to be supporting the Repton Hockey Club under 18 boys this year.

It’s now the indoor hockey season and the lads have just been crowned Midlands Champions and will take on the national finals in January in their awesome FCB branded shorts.

Wishing you all the best of luck for the New Year!

#sponsorship #hockey #champions

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd. Joins Low Carbon Project

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 25/01/2018

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd. is delighted to announce a new partnership with Aston University on the Low Carbon SMEs project that aims to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Co-financed by the University and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) the initiative will see university academics provide expertise to support Frederick Cooper in developing holistic energy efficient solutions that lead to higher productivity and overall business success.

Jon Stone Sales Director at Frederick Cooper said, At Frederick Cooper we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and as such we are always keen to explore new initiatives and technologies.

John Kyffin- Hughes, Business Engagement Manager (Aston Business School, Aston University) added, This is an exciting opportunity for Frederick Cooper and other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region to take advantage of access to specialist support. I congratulate Jon and his team for their forward thinking approach.

Pictured left to right:

Steve Bridgewater, Quality Manager Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd. and John Kyffin- Jones, Business Engagement Manager (Low Carbon SMEs) Aston University.

Frederick Cooper is recognised as a service driven, cost effective and friendly powder coating and paint spraying business.

For more information contact Jai Purewal on 0121 7724201 or jaipurewal@frederickcooper.co.uk

DIY SOS at Calthorpe School

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 07/03/2018

Staff from Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd. joined forces with volunteers from Wooden Spoon, the childrens charity of rugby to spend the day building a life-enhancing project for school pupils at Calthorpe Academy in Birmingham, an incredible special school for children with complex learning needs.

The project was facilitated by ex-military coaches and mentors from Fusion Community Initiatives. As well as delivering a wonderful new facility for school pupils, the days activity was also an opportunity for volunteers to step out of their comfort zone taking on new challenges and learning new skills working alongside people they have not met before.

Chris McCartney, Assistant Head at Calthorpe Academy said,

Were really thankful to all our volunteers. Their hard work has opened up an otherwise no- go zone for pupils and delivered an amazing outdoor space for personal development through play. We now have a lovely walkway and outdoor classroom in our small wooded area- not bad for inner city Birmingham.

Jai Purewal, Frederick Cooper added,

Today was challenging but ultimately very rewarding knowing what we are leaving behind for the school, its pupils and staff. Frederick Cooper is committed to supporting our local community and Calthorpe [Academy] being less than 2 miles from our Bordesley Green headquarters means its a perfect fit.

Watch the project video here: https://youtu.be/p2PHA9b1sWE

HAPPY HAPPY KIDDIES

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 21/12/2021

We are delighted to announce that £2000 worth of toys have been delivered to the BCM Toy-Link Appeal. A massive thank you to Jai Purewal and Luke Allsopp spearheading this years appeal.

Finally, the Mission are still wanting support to help wrap the presents, if you think you can help, please get in touch. You can call 0121 766 6603 or email office@birminghamcitymission.co.uk

Updated Website / New Powder Microsite

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 02/07/2015

We are please to unveil our updated company website @ www.frederickcooper.co.uk and new Powder coating micro site @ www.frederickcooper-powdercoating.co.uk

Like most websites this just gives you a glimpse of what we do and for the sectors we cover. If you require more detailed information via a company presentation please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Frederick Cooper | Regional Finalist

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 31/08/2023

Frederick Cooper has been shortlisted as a regional finalist for the Developing Future Talent Category in the prestigious Midlands & East region Make UK Manufacturing Awards.

This recognition underscores our commitment to fostering talent, driving innovation, and contributing to the growth of the manufacturing sector.

The Make UK Manufacturing Awards celebrate all that is good within the manufacturing industry, and being named a finalist in the Developing Future Talent Category is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.

The event is scheduled to take place on November 1st, and we are eagerly looking forward to joining fellow industry professionals, thought leaders, and innovators at the awards ceremony.

Frederick Cooper Supports School Easter Egg Hunt- In May!

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 02/05/2018

On the face of it a damp May morning in inner- city Birmingham may not seem the most likely of scenarios for an Easter egg hunt but for pupils at Calthorpe Academy it was certainly a day like no other.

Calthorpe Academy is a school for over 350 learners aged between 2-19, with a range of educational difficulties, from Autistic spectrum, moderate to severe learning difficulties and complex needs.

For the full story click here

FREDERICK COOPER PARTNER WITH REPTON HC

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 14/10/2021

Recently, we agreed to partner with Repton Hockey Club as a Gold partner for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 season. Sport is a passion of ours and we’re delighted to add Repton to the list of clubs we support.

Jon Stone our Managing Director had these thoughts. “We at Frederick Cooper are really looking forward to working with Repton Hockey Club. We share their passion for always pushing to be the best. Repton’s focus on high performance and quality mirrors our own approach in the manufacturing world. We are particularly excited to be supporting the Men’s and the Under 18 boys in their Indoor and Outdoor campaigns and wish them all the best of luck for the upcoming season.”

We can’t wait to see how you get on! We’re behind you all the way!

A day in the life of a sprayer

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 22/09/2016

Below is an account of a Sprayers life here at Frederick Cooper. No day is ever the same, but this serves to give insight in what is a typical day for one of our sprayers.

7:30

The day starts when I get into my overalls, gloves and mask and perform a quick check on my gun. You dont want to find out after having started spraying that your gun is playing up.

After having checked this and received my paint I have a read of the job card to see if there is anything tricky about the next job I will be spraying whether a certain side has to be sprayed last or whether there are any care point to be aware of. Ill sign and date the job card, then I can set the gun and start spraying. I check the work while blowing down each jig in case I can see something that the jiggers or maskers have missed or not rubbed down sufficiently and then start spraying.

After a couple of jigs I will check what I have sprayed to see whether it is suitably sprayed, and the supervisor/foreman will come and have a look and give the ok to carry on. There are so many different spraying jobs with their own subtleties, so if I get a job that I dont see very often its a lot easier to stop and check rather than spray the whole lot and find out that a crucial bit has been overlooked.

10:00

Time for a quick coffee break and have a chat to some of the other guys on the shop floor, the conversations vary every day, sometimes its about work and components were working on other days it can be about XFactor or Football!

10:10

I head back in the booth and carry on until Ive finished what Ive been tasked to do. Some jobs will only be a couple of trays and be almost over before youve started others may last all week. Then Id sign the process card when Ive finished the job.

When its finished Ill pour any waste paint back into the tub and give my gun a good clean, taking it apart and giving each part a rinse. (Its quicker than it sounds) then, its time to reassemble the gun and run some thinners through it to check its working properly.

The gun and myself are now ready for the next job. The charge-hand/supervisor will have already lined up the next job and paint. Before I begin spraying again, I have just enough time to sign and date the process card while l read it and see whats coming up.

More often than not its a job that Ive seen before and the process card is there to refresh my memory. But we get in new jobs in all the time and thats when were able to work with the supervisor on methods to make the job easier for the sprayer

12:00

Lunch time and a good chance to rest and refuel. Spraying keeps you fit and its to not have to worry about whether youve done enough exercise, believe me!

12:30

Afternoon session. There are some jobs that you can only do in the afternoon because you dont want to move them until the next day so they require overnight flash off. These are typically high end full gloss parts or parts that stay tacky for a long time.

14:00

Quick coffee break. This is a good time to catch up again with the rest of the shop floor.

14:10

Time to get back in the booth and continue the afternoon spraying session. This can sound relentless, but the feeling you get knowing youve hit your targets is a good one. Also, you find yourself becoming obsessed with the components you work on, my friends and family soon get tired when I point out brake calipers or electronic parts, proudly beaming I did that!

15:45

This is the time to start cleaning up. Giving the guns (usually just 1 or 2) Ive used a good clean ready for the morning and getting anything I need ready for the morning and making sure my gloves, mask and any other protective equipment is ready for the morning.

16:00

End of a productive day.

FREDERICK COOPER BECOME PARTNERS WITH BIRMINGHAM CITY FC

Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) Ltd — 13/01/2021

BIRMINGHAM CITY FC HAVE SECURED LOCAL BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS FREDERICK COOPER (FCB) AS OFFICIAL GOAL SPONSOR FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2020/21 SEASON.

The partnership will see the our logo feature on all Blues goal related social media posts and live match coverage on BluesTV.

Jon Stone our Sales Director said “We’re proud to partner and support Birmingham City, with a massive fan base right on our doorstep, it was a natural decision for us. What the Club have done and still do for Bordesley Green and Small Heath, our home, has been excellent and we wanted to be a part of that and introduce our business to the locals who may not know us.”