Mark's job eases the stress

Mark is working at StressWeld Engineering in Atherton, a local company which specialises in heat treating metallic parts such as chain links and valves, to reduce their internal stresses.

This heat-treatment process, which lasts overnight and reaches temperatures of 600 degrees C, makes the parts stronger and easier to machine.

At StressWeld Mark has done several different jobs including wiring the thermocouple plugs and loading the huge ovens, each of which has it's own pet name like the 'rabbit hutch'. It's hard work involving a lot of heavy lifting, but he seems to enjoy it.

Unfortunately Mark's not been able to get his hands on the welding equipment or the driving the fork lift truck for obvious Health and Safety reasons. Nevertheless, he's had a good time there and has learnt a lot.

Mr. J.