Lestercast’s Appreciation Programme – Kerstin Brabham

Manufacturing Operations Appreciation Programme

As part of our ongoing ‘Appreciation Programme’, Lestercast has been running a series of specialised training days throughout 2025, designed to give employees the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of manufacturing techniques used across different departments within the company. This cross-departmental initiative not only broadens each participant’s technical knowledge and practical understanding of the full production process but also fosters a greater sense of collaboration, respect, and teamwork among staff.

By allowing employees to step into the roles of their colleagues, the programme helps them appreciate the skills, challenges, and precision involved at each stage of production. For the company, this leads to a more versatile, informed, and cohesive workforce, improved communication between departments, and ultimately, a stronger, more efficient production environment. The initiative also supports individual career development and motivation, reinforcing Lestercast’s commitment to investing in its people as a key driver of innovation and long-term success.

Date: 18 minutes ago

Category: Staff News

This week, Kerstin, a valued member of our Wax Room team, successfully completed her final training placement as part of Lestercast’s cross-departmental development initiative. Her most recent placement took place within the Laser Etching Department, where she received comprehensive training from Arbaaz, on the operation of laser etching machinery and the precise etching of sequenced parts.

Kerstin’s development journey began several months ago in the Shelling & Priming Department, where she gained an in-depth understanding of the complete shelling and priming process. This included hands-on experience in inspection, washing, process reporting, machine maintenance, and the drying of ceramic moulds. She also had the opportunity to participate directly in the coating process, strengthening her technical skill set and appreciation of production quality standards.

In August, Kerstin progressed to the Foundry, working with the guidance of Stewart and alongside Chris, to learn about ceramic mould preparation, metal charges, material analysis techniques, and the mould knock-out process. This placement provided her with valuable insight into the core operations of the casting process and the technical precision required in this stage of production.

In September, Kerstin joined Manjit in the Metrology Department, where she developed an understanding of dimensional inspection techniques used to assess parts and gauges against drawing, CAD, and calibration requirements. She also produced technical evaluation reports and gained practical experience in designing and creating CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) programs for production components, while supporting NPI (New Product Introduction) and Quality functions through the use of CMM, CAD, and 3D printing technologies.

Through this structured programme, Kerstin has significantly broadened her technical knowledge, strengthened her understanding of Lestercast’s full manufacturing process, and demonstrated exceptional commitment to professional growth. Her achievements reflect both her personal dedication and Lestercast’s ongoing investment in staff development, cross-functional learning, and operational excellence.

Kerstin Appreciation Programme Foundry Lestercast - Lestercast Investment Casting Services

“I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Manufacturing Operations Appreciation Programme. The experience provided valuable insight into each department and the quality control processes implemented throughout the production line. This knowledge has significantly enhanced my day-to-day work in the wax room, enabling me to better understand potential downstream challenges and take proactive steps to prevent them.

With my background in metalworking, I especially enjoyed part-marking in the laser room. It was also great to be involved in metal preparation and to see the casting process first-hand in the foundry”.

Kerstin Brabham

We would like to thank all of our employees that supported Kerstin throughout her programme.