Barry Wilcox - Life at work with Atlas Copco
Our much-respected colleague Barry Wilcox retires from Atlas Copco UK after 42 years. We caught up with him to find out more about his career and what made him stay for so long.
Where did you start your working life?
How did you move from there into Atlas Copco?
The story goes during a lunch break I saw an Atlas Copco service engineer working on the main factory compressor. The Atlas Copco engineer was John Wall, who sadly is no longer with us. After a conversation with John about Atlas Copco, he advised they were looking for service engineers. After some research (in those days you looked in the local library at the company house details) Atlas Copco came up as a world leader in compressed air (nothing has changed there). I wrote an introduction letter (again in the day no emails or texted). I had an interview and was offered the job.
In 1979 I started work as a service engineer for Atlas Copco GB Midlands service branch. It was a time before Atlas Copco service department was divisionalised. And you would work on all Atlas Copco products (tools, compressors, rock drills, spray equipment, tunnelling equipment etc). This was later changed due to the complexity of our product range.
The work was interesting and took me to some strange and interesting places. From deep coal mining (Atlas Copco were a well-established in mining and construction in
What were your next career steps?
In 2001 I took on the role of Atlas Copco Technical Support engineer Oil-free Air, initially working out of the Atlas Copco head office Hemel Hempstead, providing technical support both remotely and on site to customers and Atlas Copco personnel, and carried out the Atlas Copco GB engineer training programmes.
At this time, I also studied and attained a BENG Hons Degree in Aerospace and Automotive Component design and manufacture from the University of Wolverhampton/Warwick.
In 2008 I took the role of Project Manager for Atlas Copco GB Gas and Process turbine compressors and expanders. The remit was to develop the Atlas Copco GB Gas and Process aftermarket business in GB and Ireland, the main aims were to ensure engineer competence. Project planning of outages and to introduce upgrades and new machine developments. Also ensure financial and budgetary constraints needed to be met. The business grew year on year.
In 2017 the Atlas Copco GB Gas and Process turbine business was taken into the responsibility of the manufacturing base of Atlas Copco Energas Gas And Process (GAP) Cologne. This gave the opportunity to be more sales driven and promote the new aftermarket products from Atlas Copco Energas.
You retire at the end of March 2021 from the position of Gas & Process Aftermarket Manager, UK, Ireland & Israel. How do you see the business continuing after your retirement?
I believe the business is in a much better position to move forward. My very good colleague Cor Dekker will be taking over the business and I am sure it will go from strength to strength. I have been fortunate to have had a varied and enjoyable career with Atlas Copco. I am thankful to all the people who have supported Atlas Copco and myself during my tenure.