MERVYN THOMAS

December 2007

Managing Director Mervyn Thomas of Total Fabrications Ltd steps into the Vital Stats hotseat...

Date & place of birth:
November 27 1961; Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, UK.

Profession:
Managing director, Total Fabrications Ltd.

What was your first professional job following full-time education?
I trained as a central heating design engineer for OBC (now Plumbcenter).

How did you get involved in the trussing industry?
Before I took my first proper job I earned pocket money by helping my uncle and his partner at their small factory in Pershore. I used to help make the Thomas PAR can in a small converted office block on the front of an engineering factory. The more I helped out, the more interested I became. Ten years later I was offered an opportunity to work for this company when Chris Cronin departed to set up his own business. I took the opportunity, which allowed me to continue the development of the company and I went on to design a particular truss product range which has a patent registered in my name.

Which projects have been your most challenging?
Firstly, the design and installation of the Catwalk truss system in the RSC Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. We were working under CDM regulations with a small timescale from order placement to completion. It was design intensive work that required us to interface with many other trades to ensure we did our bit at the correct times, and did not hold the project up. Secondly, the George Michael 25 Live set was a nice sized project that certainly gained us good publicity as we were awarded set manufacturer of the year for 2006. This set had some huge design issues to overcome, which we achieved, and it was very satisfying when the end result was so good.

What are your aims in your new role as MD of Total Fabrications?
To ensure the company continues to be competitive in the market place by continuously improving all aspects of the business. And help make the industry a safer place to work.

What’s the biggest issue facing the trussing industry at the moment?
The industry is going through a period of takeovers with fewer independents operating and manufacturing. Total Solutions Group is one of those independents and we like it that way. We have some excellent knowledgeable and respected staff in the company, which will stand us in good stead for the bigger projects which are happening year on year. I am glad to see the level of expertise in the rigging industry being raised and the coming of the National Rigging Certificate can only help to make the industry safer. The biggest issue facing the trussing industry is the rise in popularity of inexpensive truss — we need to realise its shortcomings and respect the need for properly engineered truss solutions.

How do you ensure safe use of your products once they have left you?
Truss will last indefinitely if it is used with respect and within its design specification, and getting this message through to the end users is everyone’s responsibility. Generally speaking, we sell to people that know what they are doing, but when this is not the case we will show them how to use truss safely. We also offer the option to inspect clients’ truss in order to provide peace of mind, plus we train people in good rigging practice.

Whose responsibility is it to ensure that riggers are not in danger of having an accident at work?
This is the responsibility of the employer who should have assessed the individual risk and provided a method statement for the respective work. This should then ensure that the riggers carrying out the work are fully aware of the process and the danger.

Do you have any hobbies?
I wind down by mountain bike riding, which is awesome fun and we have some great areas to ride where I live. I will also very occasionally play a poor round of golf. Man against a small white ball. The ball always wins!

What career would you choose in a different life?
That’s tough! I have an inkling it would be something to do with cars, but I’m not sure what.

What were the first and last live gigs you went to as a paying punter?
The first was 10cc at Stafford Bingley Hall; the last was Razorlight at the NEC.

Your ‘Desert Island Disc’?
Probably At Night At The Opera by Queen.

What would be your advice to a teenage Mervyn Thomas?
Go with your instincts and hold your head up, be honest and fair.

 

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