Willenhall company wins big Euro 2012 contract

An historic Black Country galvanising firm has won a contract to help build the main football stadium for the Euro 2012 football championships.

Willenhall-based B.E. Wedge is helping construct the Olympiysky Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine.

The firm, part of 150-year-old Wedge Group Galvanizing, has galvanised 1,000 metal poles for the new 69,000-seater ground - due to be completed in June 2011. Sixty seven plant staff and 20 office workers are based at B.E. Wedge in Stafford Street.

Sales manager Lee Dickens said: "We are delighted to be involved in this prestigious project, and cannot wait to see the finished result in its full glory — hopefully cheering on England in the UEFA European final."

The stadium will be used for several group matches from June 8. 2012 and host the final on July 1.

Work has taken place over summer to fit a futuristic glass roof. B.E. Wedge galvanised 1,000 cable supports for the stadium.

"This structure has to support the influx of fans that will be flocking to Kiev's stadium in 2012 and therefore durability and quality of the metalwork was paramount," Mr Dickens added. "All 1,000 of the galvanised swaged tubes have now been shipped over to Ukraine."

Wedge Group Galvanizing has 14 plants nationally.

The deal is the latest high-profile sporting contract to be landed by a Walsall firm.

RMD Kwikform, near Aldridge, was selected to supply steel supports at the London Olympic Games site.

The firm, which has 100 employees based in Brickyard Road, has provided roof propping for the £240 million Aquatic Centre.