Leading North-East engineer’s accolade

A LEADING North-East engineer and, one of the world’s foremost experts in forensic material science has been awarded a prestigious accolade by the engineering community.

Dr René Hoyle, a director and principal materials and corrosion engineer at AXIOM Engineering Associates, in Stockton. has become a fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Dr Hoyle’s career started in 1983 when he went to work as a trainee laboratory assistant for Marit Metallurgical Engineers, near Yarm.

In 1996, he moved to ABB’s Wilton site, on Teesside, before deciding to leave and set up AXIOM Engineering Associates with colleague and mechanical engineer, Adam Potter in April 2003 when the company decided to close its laboratory.

The pair started AXIOM in The Grange Business Centre, in Billingham, formerly the ICI training school canteen, but the business soon outgrew the cramped premises.

Since then, the firm has moved twice and is now based in new offices close to the River Tees, where it carries out failure and corrosion analysis for clients worldwide.

AXIOM now has a team of 43 specialist engineers working on scores of projects. The group has also diversified beyond chemicals and bulk storage management into the automotive industry, power generation and renewable energy sectors.

In order to become a fellow, Dr Hoyle had to demonstrate he had made a significant contribution to the field of materials science. The Institute also took into account his mentoring work with junior staff members, public lectures and one-to-one training sessions with client engineers.

He said: “I’m delighted to have had my application to become a fellow accepted. With just 3,000 fellows worldwide it’s quite an accolade.”