Refractory Engineering Apprenticeships
WHAT IS A REFACTORY TECHNICIAN ROLE?
Refractory Technician’s work with specialist heat resistant materials and clays to build and maintain industrial furnaces, boilers and kilns. Although the skills they possess are equally applicable to other construction industries, the work in the St Helens area is predominantly for the Glass Industry. Refractory Bricklayers work in teams both outdoors as well as indoors and you may have to work at heights, or in tunnels and shafts and in hot conditions. When you are fully trained you will be required to experience overseas work. The team gives specialist advice to the Manufacturing Plants in St Helens, in the UK and all around the world.
THE PROGRAMME
Waterside in conjunction with NSG Pilkington Group Limited, Refractory Services has an outstanding career opportunity to follow a 4-Year Apprenticeship in Refractory Engineering (Technical Support) to potentially develop to become a key member of the Refractory Services team.
The department is responsible for the construction and maintenance of Pilkington’s Glass melting furnaces worldwide. During your apprenticeship you will cover Engineering Skills as well as Refractory Installation skills and be trained on the internal systems of work. You will need to read or design plans to construct a furnace and carry out repairs including welding parts of the structure of the furnace.
Refractory Technicians may perform the following tasks:
- Work from plans and specifications
- Work with specialist clays and mortars to serve as a base and binder for refractory blocks / bricks in rows, designs or shapes, spreading clays / mortar between joints
- Place bricks, remove excess clay / mortar from refractory blocks / bricks and check vertical and horizontal alignment
- Use various tools to shape refractory material / bricks to fit spaces
- Construct arches and other shapes to meet plans and specifications
- Repair and maintain refractory related structures
- Operate cutting, grinding and drilling machines
- Weld together structures of the furnace to undertake repairs
- Erect scaffolding (subject to health and safety regulations)
- Carry out training to Refractory Installation standards via the in-house Pilkington Training department.
The Refractory Brickwork training programme is competency based leading firstly to an NVQ 2 and subsequently to an NVQ 3 in Engineering Technical Support. You will be required to attend College as necessary where you will gain a sound understanding of engineering, construction and glass manufacturing principles as well as developing your own commitment to continuous personal development. You must be able to work with your hands, be able to follow plans, understand engineering theories and be physically fit and healthy and be able to work at heights. On the next page a breakdown of the framework and qualifications is listed over the duration of the 4 year apprenticeship programme.
THE REFRACTORY ENGINEERING APPRENTICESHIP | PROGRAMME DETAIL
