Bullfinch lights up the Olympics
BIRMINGHAM firm Bullfinch, which is producing the burners for the Olympic torches, was visited by Sir Charles Allen, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Games yesterday.
Tyseley-based Bullfinch was awarded the contract to supply the all-weather liquefied petroleum gas burner system being fitted into 8,000 Olympic and 620 Paralympic torches.
Sir Charles visited the firm’s production line at its Kings Road factory and was introduced to some of the 25-strong workforce before seeing an Olympic torch lit as part of a demonstration.
The visit coincided with the lighting of the Olympic flame in Greece today.
The Bullfinch burner was specifically designed to fit the London 2012 torches and underwent extensive wind-tunnel tests at the BMW test facility in Munich and all-weather tests in the peaks of Snowdonia. It is a significant contract for the company, helping to secure existing jobs and leading to new opportunities, including a commission to make beacons for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Andrew Williams, managing director at Bullfinch said: “There’s 50 years of Bullfinch LPG know-how gone into making this product – and everyone at the company is delighted to be making such a special contribution to the Games.
“The contract has been a boost not just for our business – we’ve taken on five extra workers – it’s also good news for our supply chain companies, as nearly all the parts for the burner are sourced in the Midlands.”
Businesses across the West Midlands have to date won over £529 million worth of tenders supplying the 2012 Games and related projects, the fourth highest regional total in the UK.
