Cecil Robinson remembers the difference the introduction of the Kunkel-Wagner machine made to the plant.

The plant was different because it was all automatic. What happened was you controlled it from the control room which was above all the machinery so you got a wide sight of what was going on. And all this was registered, all this was electronic at the time because it was a brand new plant and it was very modern. So everything was run by flashing lights and a control desk in the control room. So that if anything stopped or went wrong you could tell by the electronic lights where the fault was in the machine and had to send for maintenance to right that machine.

Jack Smith helped to develop the Kunkel-Wagner machine at Holwell and was chosen to do the first casting.

But I remember the day because when we cast the first box as we called it the first casting and they were looking for someone to do it I volunteered and got the job. I thought I had done very well until one of the Germans told me it was now my job to pay for everybody to have a pint of beer!