David Foster, who has a strong application engineering background in machining difficult materials both in sub-contract and OEM companies, followed by two years in tooling distribution sales, has joined Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal in area sales and customer support covering the Home Counties, East Anglia and Berkshire.
Said General Manager Trevor Tolley: “David’s expertise is an important addition to our customer sales and support team bringing machine setting, programming and production engineering in both small batch and volume production. In particular, his problem solving ability from involvement in difficult-to-machine materials used in the scientific, medical and connector production sectors of UK industry will be important to us in his area.”
Prior to joining Sumitomo Mr Foster was involved from 2016 in distributor tool sales in the South East where his application experience proved invaluable to customers. Following an apprenticeship in a sub-contractor he had progressed to become a CNC milling setter which lead him to be promoted and being responsible for the section producing often complex components in difficult materials for the scientific and medical sector. In 2012 he joined a Kent-based OEM connector company as a production engineer/programmer prior to his move into tooling sales.
Said Mr Foster: “My background, often involving project work in difficult-to-machine materials, is ideal for the Sumitomo range of tooling and its typical loyal customer base. I have had a lot of experience in precision turning, milling and drilling which enables me to take a wider view of production techniques covering both upstream and downstream of a tooling application.”
