Diversified metal processor IXL Group is seeking talented individuals to take up various roles and a rewarding career in metal casting.
Apprenticeship opportunities are available, says Sean Boswell, who runs IXL Metal Castings, a foundry producing a wide range of ferrous castings.
“Our plans are for two apprentices per year for 8-10 years if you know of anyone. Not only young people, we’re also looking for adult apprentices as well. For example, we have noticed during and post-covid people who are looking for a trade based career.”
The metal castings team of 30 already includes four apprentices – the first at IXL in over two decades – and Mr Boswell recently hosted a career and apprenticeship day with the Australian Foundry Institute (AFI) ‘Foundry in a Box’ program supported by the training partner Australian Institute of Engineering (AIE).
“That’s something that we’ve generated at a local level by sponsoring several community based organisations, seeking to engage with prospective recruits within these local sporting clubs, and it has provided us potential young people who are interested in jobs and apprenticeships.”
IXL offers new employees hands-on experience with industry experts in a supportive and engaging work environment, and a pathway to earning a formal metal trade qualification within the AIE training program MEM31719 Certificate III in Engineering Casting and Moulding.
IXL also works with the Australian Foundry Institute to offer sessions where potential team members experience the ‘Foundry in a Box’ program melting metal and pouring it.
“That promotes the industry and provides insight about what a foundry is,” Mr Boswell says. “We have a chemical and metallurgical laboratory as well as a reference library, so we’re able to actually test the metals for its chemistry, microscopically analyse and undertake mechanical testing assessment. So there’s quite a broad scientific element.”
Established in Geelong in 1858, IXL’s operations today also include Backwell IXL, with capabilities including metal stamping, laser cutting, welding, appliance manufacture, painting and assembly, and IXL Home which markets appliance brands IXL, Cannon and iRobot in Australia and New Zealand.
For the metal castings operation, the main customers are in mining as well as aluminium smelting, power generation and engineering markets, particularly the pump and valve segment in water treatment. IXL products are mainly used domestically, though some are shipped to Papua New Guinea and Africa.
“All metal work is done here on site in South Geelong,” says Mr Boswell, who built a home and settled in Torquay in 2011 with a young family after working in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, WA and SA.
“I was always getting down to Torquay as part of my youth and holidaying there with mates, and when moving back to Victoria decided to build,” he tells GMC.
“I spent 25 years roaming the continent in various roles to do with mining, mineral processing and rail. I went to WA for two years and stayed for 12 — which is why I have connections with the mining markets and processing knowledge.”
Mr Boswell was tasked with transitioning the IXL Metal Castings business from longstanding Alcoa Point Henry contracts and exploring new market opportunities, particularly around the mining and mineral processing areas.
“Point Henry was a substantial part of the IXL Metal Castings business and coming out of that, the challenge was to explore new customers and new markets. The whole foundry team has facilitated the transition, and we’ve been able to build a sustainable business where we are now continuing to invest in apprenticeships again.”
IXL also worked with Deakin University’s advanced materials research team within the mineAlloy program, investing in White Iron materials development towards hard wearing longer lasting castings in mine circuits.
“That’s given us some differentiation in those markets and some credibility to attract new customers. The value proposition has been there to generate recurring business expansion into other opportunities,” Mr Boswell says.
IXL has also maintained its relationship with Alcoa, pivoting from the decommissioned Point Henry operations to service Alcoa Portland and its smelters, refineries and mine sites in Western Australia.
Mr Boswell says further investment is planned in automation and beyond. “Next is investing in people, plant and equipment, and more importantly investing in people with the apprenticeship scheme to maintain our operational capability so that we have a sustainable business to go forward.”
For further information, contact Sean Boswell at 0400 496 729 or email [email protected]