We are delighted to welcome Chris Powell to the Robert Lickley Refractories team. Chris joins us as a highly experienced account and sales manager with over 35 years in heavy industry — 20 of those dedicated to the refractories sector.
Chris began his career in the glass industry, working with United Glass Ltd and PPG Industries in roles spanning plant maintenance, engineering, and furnace operations. He later moved into refractories, holding senior sales and technical positions at DSF Refractories and Harbison Walker International (HWI), before most recently working with TQC Ltd. His experience has seen him manage multi-million-pound accounts across the UK, Scandinavia, Europe, the USA, and Egypt, building trusted customer relationships in glass, steel, aluminium, copper, carbon black, and recycling industries.
Chris also brings with him strong academic credentials, including an MSc in Glass Technology and Business Management from Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University, along with a background in electrical and electronic engineering. His combination of technical knowledge and commercial expertise makes him an invaluable addition to our growing team.
When asked what attracted him to Robert Lickley Refractories, Chris said:
“I was initially drawn to the company by its size and its similarity to HWI (UK). Smaller companies can offer a more tailored and personal service to customers, and I’m looking forward to helping Robert Lickley Refractories deliver exactly that.”
Throughout his career, Chris has learned that great customer service in refractories is about reliability, product performance, and a “can-do” attitude. He understands that strong, respectful customer relationships are the foundation of long-term success — and that trust, once lost, is not easily regained.
Looking ahead, Chris is particularly excited about supporting customers as they trial and adopt new and innovative refractory solutions:
“Learning new products is always exciting, especially when introducing them to industries where they haven’t been used before. Building confidence through trials, data, and performance feedback is a vital part of helping customers succeed.”
Outside of work, Chris enjoys snowboarding at Manchester’s Chill Factore, walking in the Peak District with his dog, Oscar, and running a board gaming group in his local pub in Buxton.
We are thrilled to have Chris on board and look forward to the expertise, energy, and customer-first approach he will bring to our business and our clients.