The End of a Career in Magnetic Separation

At the end of June 2025, my time supporting Bunting Magnetics draws to a close after 11 years.  During that time, I took on the role of the European Press Officer, blending my career as a commercial photographer with my past life in marketing.

When I sat down with then Managing Director Simon Ayling and Carlton Hicks in 2014, our aim was to change the perception of Bunting Magnetics as a US-based business selling in the UK and Europe.  Over 11 years, that perception has changed and Bunting Magnetics is now recognised as a leading UK and European manufacturer of specialist and unique magnetic separators.

On site with Tom Higginbottom

36 Years in Magnetic Separation

My working life with magnetic separation started in 1989 when, as a naïve twenty-five-year-old, I set up a new marketing department for Eriez Magnetics Europe Ltd.  Over the next 24 years, we changed the industry’s perception of Eriez, significantly increasing both turnover and profitability.  We focused on writing and publishing news stories covering case studies, projects, new equipment and people.  I can recall posting typed press releases with printed photographs and then waiting one or two months until we received the printed magazine and could check to see if the story had been printed.

As the business grew, Eriez acquired their leading UK competitor and firmly established themselves as one of the elite European suppliers of magnetic separators.  I took on sales roles and, with a degree in geology, oversaw many of the mining and mineral processing projects.  This involved working on projects all over the world, and included selling high value superconducting magnets to clay processors, huge electromagnetic filters for cleaning glass grade silica sand, and multiple rare earth roll separators to process feldspar.  My career progressed with the company and I took up the reigns of Managing Director in 2008.  After another period of unprecedented growth, including significantly expanding the manufacturing facility in Bedwas South Wales, my time at Eriez came to a close.

A new career loomed as I established a commercial photography business.  Photography was a passion since I was given my first camera at the age of thirteen and I had taken many of the photographs Eriez had used in case studies, brochures and general marketing.  With that as my marker, I set out to carve a niche in industrial photography.

However, life is full of unexpected opportunities.  In 2014, Carlton, who I had worked with at Eriez, contact me and asked if I would be interested in helping change the industry perception of Bunting Magnetics in a similar way to what had been achieved with Eriez in the early 1990s.  I met Simon, the Managing Director of Bunting Magnetics Europe, and worked on a plan to increase awareness of the business and their status as a UK manufacturer.

On the waste recycling plant at Parry and Evans

In just 3 years, by January 2017, Bunting Magnetics was recognised as one of the leading UK manufacturers of magnetic separators.  Case studies, product releases, and news were regularly featured in the trade press and shared via social media.

As Bunting Magnetics grew, absorbing another leading UK manufacturer of magnetic separators, the business evolved and I continued creating content to build the company brand and image.  Using my photography skills and experience in magnetic separation, I wrote and issued press releases and blogposts.  I drew on decades of industry knowledge to write detailed technical articles discussing the use of magnetic separators in the mining, mineral processing and recycling industries.  Over 11 years, Bunting Magnetics published over 543 press releases and blogposts, with coverage in and on at least 1,600 international magazines and media platforms (print and online).

In today’s digital age, I would send a technical press release to the international media early in the morning and it will be online within as little as an hour.  The demand for ‘news’, in whatever form, has never been higher, and our aim was to provide as much content as we possibly could.

Combining Marketing and Photography

Combining my photography and marketing skills proved helpful.  Whilst at site along with a Bunting colleague, I could both interview the client and then take the photographs.  I was comfortable being on site, understanding the importance of health and safety with my own box of well-worn PPE.  Often, I knew what type of photographs I needed to support a particular article, looking for something that would help tell the story through the image.

After every site visit, we would draft the release for the customer to approve and also provide them with all of the photographs.  Once released, the articles were published globally, providing precious exposure for Bunting Magnetics and their customers.

Magnetic Separation at W Maw
Bunting ElectroMax Overband Magnets at W Maw Recycling in Rotherham

Our content proved popular with the media as minimal changes were required and the high quality of the imagery.  Photographs of Bunting’s magnetic separators appeared on the front pages of international magazines.

What I did learn was that to succeed in business you need to use every attribute that you have.  It is a very competitive world and being able to write the content and take professional photographs was something that very few other photographers could do.

New Opportunities

I have enjoyed my time with Bunting Magnetics and want to thank all my colleagues, past and present.  In particular, I want to thank Simon and Carlton for initially getting me involved.  It was their vision.  And thank you to Gordon, whom I have worked closely alongside for many years.  There are many others including Matthew, Tom, Joe, Adrian, Neil, Phil, Michael, Ben, and many more.  Thank you all!

Although my time as the Bunting’s European Press Officer draws to a close, my life as a commercial photographer continues.  And it is the best job in the world.  I am lucky to work with so many incredible people, many of whom have become friends.

And when I finish typing this, I will spend time getting my cameras ready for another day-long business photoshoot tomorrow.  And I am excited already!