Bridgnorth Aluminium appoints general manager

Shropshire manufacturer Bridgnorth Aluminium has appointed Ilias Avgerinos as general manager as it targets further domestic and international growth.

Ilias joins the senior leadership team after holding several senior roles with parent company Viohalco Group and replaces Gerhard Trilling.

He will lead the next stage of the company’s expansion, with opportunities identified in North America and sectors including electrification, energy and defence, alongside further growth in the UK.

Ilias, who holds a degree in chemical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, said: “This is a very exciting time to be joining Bridgnorth Aluminium, a company I know well after sitting on the board since 2024.

“We are the UK’s only coil aluminium rolling mill and play a critical role in sectors ranging from printing, building and construction, packaging and, increasingly, energy storage. 

“Recent investment has increased our capacity and the ability to explore new markets, and this has seen us grow sales and return to round the clock production in Bridgnorth.

“My role will be to build on the progress we have made since 2024. 

“I have strong commercial and technical knowledge and a track record of introducing new projects at my previous roles at Elvalhalcor and SYMETAL.”

He added: “The Viohalco Group is hugely committed to the success of BAL, and we are currently discussing future investments that will strengthen our capability to attract new orders to the UK.

“A big part of my focus will be on the 360 people that work at our site on Stourbridge Road. 

“They are the heartbeat of what we do and, if we are going to achieve our expansion plans, we need to retain and develop our committed workforce and attract more talent through our evolving apprenticeship and recruitment programmes.

“Our leadership team is doing an excellent job and I’m keen to support them by encouraging greater collaboration across different departments, stronger communication within the company and developing more opportunities for professional growth.”

Ilias’ appointment follows two years of investment and process improvements that have seen Bridgnorth Aluminium return to 24/7 production and build an order book worth more than £300 million.

The company has also appointed Nikolina Austin as head of HR.

Nikolina joins after more than a decade with Amazon and will focus on introducing new people-focused initiatives and supporting ongoing recruitment.

She added: “Bridgnorth Aluminium has a special place in the heart of this town, with many generations of families proud to work here.

“I want us to nurture this unique culture and make it central to our business going forward, supporting people to progress within the company and using it to attract the best talent here. 

“It’s an exciting time to be involved in aluminium in the UK.”

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