MEET THE TEAM
MIKE LONG
MANAGING DIRECTOR
A director of Vacuum & Atmosphere Services since 2000, Mike brings a wealth of experience in the heat treatment sector to his role leading the business forward.
Having worked as a vaccum product manager for Ipsen Abar UK, Mike is highly knowledgeable of the industry, making him a “go to” figure among peers and clients alike.
Under Mike’s leadership, the company has progressed to offer the full service package to the heat treatment industry, from bespoke new furnaces to spare parts. Renowned as being a trusted engineering company run by engineers, VAS is expanding its products and services for clients in the UK and abroad.
An active member of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce platinum group on behalf of VAS, Mike is keen to promote the region’s industrial businesses.
IAN SCOTT
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Ian has notched up more than 20 years with Vacuum & Atmosphere Services Ltd having joined the business in 2001.
Ian is responsible for financial planning and strategy, reporting on financial performance, developing and implementing accounting policies and preparing forecasts and comprehensive budgets.
He has been a director of the company since 2001.
MARK SMITH
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Mark has been part of the Vacuum & Atmosphere Services team since 2012, drawing upon wide experience from working in the heat treatment and furnace sectors.
His main responsibilities are around the VAS aftermarket services and overseeing the parts department. He assists the service department in general and looks after internal and external company invoicing.
He also supports the sales department, colleagues in the workshop and anyone going to visit clients.
Prior to joining VAS, he spent 11 years at Ipsen International, based in Birmingham, where he ended up as UK and Ireland sales manager, giving him a strong understanding of the sector.
SERVICE ENGINEER
Drawing upon extensive working knowledge of the heat treatment sector, Paul has been a director of Vacuum & Atmosphere Services Ltd since 2001.
Paul has played a leading role as VAS has expanded rapidly, not only employing service engineers but also a team of in-house industry experts to manage the spare parts, after market, sales department and finance department.
SERVICE MANAGER
Nick has been part of the Vacuum & Atmosphere Services team since 2001, offering extensive experience in manufacturing and engineering.
Experienced in manufacturing, engineering and implementing strategies to bring continuous improvement, Nick has been a director of the company since 2001.
Aaron Long
HEAD OF VACUUM PRODUCTS
Aaron has completed more than 10 years with the company, having joined in 2012 to work in sales and marketing for the business.
He was appointed to the role of Head of Vacuum Products in 2021. Prior to this, he had worked on the shop floor, as well as building experience in the stores, customer service, marketing and sales.
Aaron draws upon a range of qualifications, including a Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Certificate in Marketing.
Aaron enjoys working with the variety of customers who use VAS. He says: “I take the time to get to know them so that we can provide excellent service.”
ANDY NISBET
QUALITY & HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGER
In 2020 Andy Nisbet joined Vacuum & Atmosphere Services in the newly created role of Quality & Health & Safety Manager.
Andy ensured compliance with the fast changing regulations around Covid and put in place processes to improve customer service by ensuring quality check systems were in place.
His main responsibilities include ensuring compliance on quality, enforcing health and safety standards in our operations and securing accreditations for work to set global standards.
He oversees all risk assessments to protect staff and customers in every job which the team do. He also organises permits for work and is heavily involved in apprentice recruitment.
GREG WALKER
HEAD OF ATMOSPHERE PRODUCTS
Greg has been in the role of Head of Atmosphere Products since 2021, having previously worked as After Market Parts Controller from 2015 onwards.
He joined in 2015 in the stores and goods in, before progressing to After Market Sales Manager.
He leads sales on the atmosphere side of the business, which includes air ovens and atmosphere furnaces plus the spare parts. The other areas he covers include burner systems and seal quench furnaces.
Away from work, he helps run a football team. As assistant manager he helped the side achieve promotion in their first season under a new management team.
JAMES LONG
VACUUM SERVICE MANAGER
James has been Vacuum Service Manager since September 2021, having previously held the position of Controls System Manager.
He has a degree from Aston University in BS, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, which he achieved before building up experience working as a control engineer and in electrical maintenance.
James joined the business in 2017 as a control engineer with a background in automation.
In 2020 he was promoted to control systems manager and at the start of 2022 he became vacuum service manager.
ADAM WALKER
SPARE PARTS LEAD
Adam is responsible for the growing spare parts arm of Vacuum & Atmosphere Services Ltd, serving clients across the UK and internationally.
Having joined the company in 2016, he works with colleagues across the business to meet customer needs and deliver projects.
