10/10/2023
Tomago Aluminium, a leading player in the aluminium manufacturing industry, proudly recognised the exceptional innovation and excellence of its dedicated employees during its annual Innovation and Excellence Awards ceremony on October 6th.
The event was attended by over 160 employees at the NEX Centre in Newcastle, and a total of 11 awards were presented, spanning eight diverse categories. This year marked a significant milestone, with the addition of three new category awards: the Spirit of Tomago Award, the Rising Star Award, and the Leadership Award.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the overall winner, Paste Plant Back to Standard Fitter, Blake McNamara. Blake’s innovation involved reducing resistance in the pin-to-carbon connection, a crucial component of Tomago Aluminium’s manufacturing process. His revolutionary design modification has already been implemented in the company’s two paste plants and is projected to deliver substantial savings of $310,000 for the business annually.
Tomago Aluminium also proudly awarded the title of “Apprentice of the Year” to fourth-year apprentice Nelsen Mulley. Nelsen’s outstanding performance throughout his apprenticeship, characterised by exemplary attendance, punctuality, a strong work ethic, and impressive craftsmanship, earned him consistently high evaluations across all departments where he worked.
The inaugural recipient of the Spirit of Tomago Award was Security Officer Tony Lewis, whose remarkable efforts extended beyond the workplace. Tony has raised significant funds for Variety, The Children’s Charity, and consistently goes above and beyond to support his colleagues and contribute to on-site events.
Speaking about the awards, Interim CEO Nigel Backhouse emphasised the crucial role played by Tomago Aluminium’s exceptional workforce in driving the business forward. Nigel acknowledged the dedication, innovation, and continuous improvement mindset displayed by employees, which is vital for the company’s long-term sustainability and success.
“We received over 180 staff nominations, making the task of selecting the winners quite challenging,” Nigel remarked. “We want to thank all our employees for their hard work and dedication to make Tomago Aluminium the leading aluminium smelter in Australia.”
“Our people are experts in their fields and are best placed to look for new, different and better ways of doing things. Continuous improvement is vital for our long-term sustainability and business success.”
Nigel highlighted the remarkable aspect of Blake’s innovation lies in the swift action he took. “Within a week, he was already testing it out. Despite an initial setback, Blake persisted and made another attempt, ultimately achieving a successful result that is revolutionising a key aspect of our manufacturing process.”
In recognition of his outstanding achievement, Blake McNamara was awarded $21,000 to put towards international travel, along with the unique perpetual trophy crafted from a slice of Tomago’s Aluminium billet, which he will proudly hold for a year. Additionally, each individual award category winner received $2,500 worth of domestic travel and a special trophy, while winning teams were honoured with a special event, a team plaque, and personalised ingots.
Tomago Aluminium remains committed to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation among its workforce, and these awards stand as a testament to the unwavering dedication and contributions of its employees.
Tomago Aluminium 2023 Excellence and Innovation Award Winners
Overall Winner
Blake McNamara, Operator
Excellence in Cost & Waste
Individual Danny Oakley, Environment and Waste Technical Advisor
Team Rod Shop Snap Cuff Conversion Team (Jeremy Sams & Travis Hulm)
Excellence in Health, Safety & Environment
Individual Adam Priestley, FRT Project Electrician
Team RAO Isolation Team (Adam Panton, Matt McDonald & Nicki Hopley)
Excellence in Process Stability & Quality Award
Individual Blake McNamara, PP Back to Standard Fitter,
Team Ingot Chain MOJO Maintenance Strategy Team (Aaron Burkett, Ashley Evans, Chad Moremon, Darren Saxby, Gavin Courtney, Mark Carter, Todd Griffin & Travis Collins)
Leadership Award
Ross Vandyke, Contractor Management Superintendent
Rising Star Award
Lachlan Snowdon, Reliability Engineer – Electrical
Spirit of Tomago Award
Tony Lewis, Security Officer
Apprentice of the Year
Nelson Murray – 4th Year Apprentice
