This week, #madeinsandwell Monday is celebrating the sleek, precision-engineered steel curves which began life in Tividale and are now travelling the world on two luxury cruise liners.

The curved stainless steel structures were designed and manufactured by Barnshaws Section Benders on Tipton Road in Oldbury. They have been used to create modern canopies forming the entrances to 22 restaurants on board the Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium cruise ships in a recent interior refurbishment.

As we reported back in November 2018, Barnshaws already supplies to other sectors, including civil engineering, rail transportation, power generation, oil and gas, offshore and construction. However, this is the company’s first foray into cruise liners. Having worked with Barnshaws in the past, contractor Leisure Structures knew the business could deliver, both in terms of volume and quality.

Greg North, sales director at Barnshaws, said: “Marine is one of the most challenging sectors to obtain product approval, with electrochemical corrosion caused by seawater, quality standards and metallurgy disciplines are of paramount consideration, so to be supplying luxury ocean-going vessels at this early stage of our new market development is a real boost.”

With a combined passenger load of 5000 holiday-makers on board the two ships, that’s a lot of footfall passing underneath the steel structures from Sandwell. If you find yourself on the high seas with Celebrity Cruises, don’t just head for the buffet – make sure you look up and appreciate how far the gleaming steel above your head has travelled.

#madeinsandwell Monday is a celebration of the talent and diversity within our borough. If you’re interested in being considered for a #madeinsandwell Monday profile and having information about your organisation shared on Think Sandwell and through Twitter, read this.