Born in 1967, John Stokes is a well-known Mechanical and Production Engineer who has gained over 37 years of experience in the die casting industry. He was born in the UK and started his career as a technical engineer in the foundry responsible for the tooling and maintenance department.
John was appointed as General Manager of IDRA Group last year. However, he has worked at IDRA since 1995 and has lived in Italy for the last 15 years. During his tenure at IDRA, he has been instrumental in many projects that supported the growth of aluminium and magnesium in the automotive industry, both in Italy and abroad.
One of John’s significant contributions to the industry is the Giga Press machine, which he co-developed in 2016. This innovative technology started production in 2020 and is now revolutionizing the automotive industry. The Giga Press machine is a large-scale die casting machine that can produce structural automotive components from aluminium, replacing heavier materials such as steel. This technology is helping to make vehicles lighter, more fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly.
With his wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry, he has established strong relationships with customers, and his leadership has helped IDRA become a prominent player in the die-casting industry.
As a lead in (FSA), The Foundry Star Alliance, a collaborative group of eight companies in the die-casting industry, focused on supporting and fostering rapid growth within the automotive body structure sector. This alliance likely aims to bring together expertise, resources, and innovative ideas to advance die casting technology, improve processes, and enhance the overall quality and efficiency of automotive body structures.
In such a collaboration, the participating companies can pool their knowledge, share best practices, and work on joint research and development projects. By leveraging each other’s strengths and capabilities, they can collectively address challenges, stay ahead of market trends, and capitalize on opportunities for growth in the automotive industry.
