
Updated On 08/18/2008 The validity of this article may expire without notice.
U.K.
Toray Textiles Europe Ltd (TTEL)
Engineering Department
Chris Barks
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- Q1. What does your company do?
- TTEL opened in March 1989 as a producer of polyester and nylon fabrics. The next development will involve aramid fibres and carbon fibre yarns to expand our product portfolio.
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- Q2. What does your department/section do and what work are you in charge of?
- I am in charge of the Engineering Department, which is responsible for the safety and environmental systems, the maintenance and repair of all production machinery, buildings and utility infrastructure. I also manage all machinery and equipment installations, modifications and refurbishment projects.
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- Q3. What kind of job do you mainly put a lot of effort into?
- I put a lot of effort into managing maintenance systems and budgetary control. I developed ‘warp & weft line’ maintenance system for the weaving looms which has reduced production loss
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- Q4. When do you feel rewarded at work?
- The variety of responsibility and underlying pressure to achieve positive results provide a great sense of work satisfaction. I enjoy helping my colleagues with technical and practical problem solving and feel rewarded when given thanks for my effort.
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- Q5. What was your most impressive work?
- Since the beginning of 2008, our company embarked on a project to produce a high performance range of lightweight nylon fabrics. I helped develop processing methods and machine specifications. Using existing equipment, we achieved our goal and are able to produce our “Evolution 20” nylon fabrics. This is attracting a lot of interest from premium customers throughout the European market.
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- Q6. What is it that you put a lot of effort into in your personal life?
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My favourite sport is playing golf, which I play two times a week. I play off 12 handicap at The Sherwood Forest Golf Club in Nottinghamshire. My wife and children also play, which provides a good opportunity to enjoy family time together.
I also enjoy carp fishing at the local Hardwick Hall lakes using surface bait tactics that I have refined over the past 15 years. My best catch to date has been a mirror carp weighing seventeen pounds from lake three in Mansfield.





















