Foundry worker

Foundry workers carry out a variety of tasks to make products from metal. There are many jobs in the different stages of the work process. These include, preparing moulds, operating furnaces, dealing with molten metal and finishing work.

Work activities

Foundry workers produce cast metal products, ranging from car parts to ships’ propellers or parts for mobile phones. Metal is melted in a furnace and the molten metal is poured into moulds made out of sand or metal. Once the metal casting has cooled/solidified, the mould is removed.

There are a number of different jobs within the foundry industry, because there are so many different processes involved. These include:

• Sand mixers or sand mill operators, who mix the sand mixture used for moulding, or operate sand mixing machinery.
• Machine moulders, who operate automated or hand-operated moulding machinery, check moulds for faults and do repairs.
• Furnace operators load up different kinds of furnaces with a metal mixture.

They check temperatures and supervise the melting process. Foundry workers may have to work in hot, noisy, and sometimes dark and dirty conditions. They might have to wear protective clothing as well.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

• Good hand skills.
• To work carefully and accurately, following safety procedures.
• An understanding of metal.
• Some physical strength for any lifting and carrying.
• To be able to work well with others as part of a team.

Working conditions may be dusty, so the job may not be suited to you if you have allergies or conditions such as asthma.

Pay and opportunities

Wages for foundry workers vary depending on the tasks their work involves.  The pay rates given are approximate. Foundry workers start on around £15,000, rising to around £27,000 with experience.

Foundry workers usually work a 41-43-hour week, which may include late finishes, weekend and shift work.

Employers throughout the UK are foundries, large and small. Opportunities for foundry workers occur in foundries in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

One route into this job is through a level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of metal casting, foundry and patternmaking technician. This way you will train on-the-job while studying to gain relevant qualifications to support your work.

Progression is often to supervisory positions within a company. Some people in this job become patternmakers following training.

Qualifications

You don’t usually need qualifications to enter this job. Employers look for the kind of people who like practical work. However, GCSEs are desirable. GCSEs in maths and English are essential if you want to do an advanced apprenticeship.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

People often enter this job with a background of work in a similar type of industry. Skills gained in metal production and fabrication, can be useful.

Related careers

• Machine operator
• Patternmaker
• Welder