Aluminium Casthouse Technologies (ACT), a Midlands-based aluminium specialist in high value fluxes and other products to improve casthouse operations, has won a top business award for innovation.

Our company, which is based in Birmingham with manufacturing around the world, won Most Innovative Company at the international BizX 2025 awards for seeking out and exploiting new technologies to help customers improve melt quality and reduce costs.

The annual awards, hosted this year by Rachel Riley, TV presenter and mathematics expert from Channel 4’s Countdown, brought together over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the UK and EMEA.

Held at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre, the event celebrated innovation and excellence in business, with ACT going up against finalists from UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa in sectors ranging from software to food production.

ACT won the award for its innovative product portfolio, including the pioneering BatchPilot furnace weight measurement system, its bone ash-free Casiflux launder coating and environmentally-friendly refining fluxes.

Director John Courtenay, a former technical director at Foseco Aluminium, said: “Winning this award is truly amazing.

“We started up in 2016 as we wanted to revolutionise our part of the industry, reduce waste and poor quality material and ensure better quality finished products across the board. But we were hit quite badly by the pandemic and had to build the business up to full strength again.

“For the past two years, we’ve been full steam ahead and are excited by our innovation and how our very unique solutions are appealing to the industry.

“I’d like to thank our incredible team, from our sales department and technical experts to our support team. This award is a nod to their hard work and progressive outlook as we continue to innovate in today’s complex world.”

Julie Wagstaff, managing director of ActionCOACH UK, which powers the BizX awards, said: “Each year, the standard of the entries continues to rise, making the judging process tougher than ever – which makes winning this award an even greater achievement.”

An exciting year ahead

John added that it was an exciting year ahead for the company. “New innovation includes a brand-new flux product, which will be a game changer for casthouses looking to bring down the number of aborted casts,” he said.

“We will also continue to work closely with revered research institutions including BCAST at Brunel University London, ensuring we stay ahead in innovation to benefit global casthouses.”

ACT’s products are manufactured in Canada and China and exported round the world. Customers include some of the biggest groups in the aluminium industry, who are making everything from high tensile alloys for EV and aerospace through to foil and canbody stock.

Every product is developed by the company’s expert professionals in aluminium technology and complementary disciplines, many of whom have worked for some of the biggest names in aluminium production.

ACT also actively supports the industry by working alongside casthouse personnel and has agents, distributors and technical personnel all over the globe to provide product information, technical help and back-up services.

Customer service is accredited with certifications including membership of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) and accreditations to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IAF and IATF16969. Its central warehousing in an LME accredited facility in Europe also means delivery is easy, fast and reliable.

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