Ware & Kay Solicitors - York

We have used David Riley's welding and fabrication services both for ourselves and for clients on many occasions and have always found him to be prompt, reliable, thorough and totally professional.

GMC Fabrication Services - Pontefract

I would like to take this opportunity to thank David Riley. His expert help and knowledge was of excellent benefit to myself and my employees,  and we all have greatly appreciated the time he has given us. His advice has enabled us to further enhance our services to our customers and we will be recommending Mr Riley to our customers and other fabrication companies that we deal with.
Mark Cooper

Tando Fabrications - Selby

I am writing to let you know how much I appreciate and value your efforts with regards to our welding procedures. You have been like a breath of fresh air blowing through our workshops. The information and best practices you have passed on to us in an honest and open way has got the message through to me and my fabricators.

The improvements in the weld quality in such a short period has been staggering. The tips you have passed on are invaluable and have now become standard practice.

On a personal level I have found you to be very knowledgeable without being overstated and also very generous with your time and your facilities. I thank you also for the manner in which you have dealt with me and my chaps, whom you have helped without bias or prejudice. The confidence which the youngsters are now showing is reflected in their performance and is quite amazing.

Terry O'Hara

PM Fabrications LTD

Dave Riley came highly recommended to us. This recommendation was certainly justified with his professional approach and outstanding knowledge   

Mark Mitchell   
PM Fabrications

BRITISH RAIL

David was an apprentice sheet metal worker and journeyman in the Fabrication Department when I held the position of Superintendent of Manufacturing, responsible for the manufacture of all in-house components for both new construction and repaired railway carriages. As David’s senior, I easily identified his technical, social and leadership skills.

David pursued a career in the inspection and quality control of welding, never forsaking the practical skills of his trade. We worked closely when the design of mainline Mark III carriages were adapted for suburban 20m high density stock, I as Project Manufacturing Manager and David as a Welding Technologist. The decisions we made at that time became the benchmark for the thousand of EMU carriages using IZ steel made at York.

In 1978, we manufactured thirteen 5-car electric trains for Taiwan. Faults were found in the design of the carriage when British Rail was introducing anti-roll equipment for the first time in the UK, Lack of anti-roll equipment for IM gauge trains exacerbated the poor ride quality on questionable track. I was asked to lead a team in Taiwan to respectively modify the electric trains and fit anti-roll equipment, linking bogie to body. All aspects of welding for this major modification were undertaken by David and his team, who worked in Taiwan for many months and saw the programme through to completion. Because of the efforts of David and his team, he rescued a Thirteen million pound contract.

David left York Carriage works in the late 1980s to pursue commercial ventures beyond engineering. It is interesting to follow the recent take-up of his old profession and his consultancy work with his ex railway colleague, Dave Sanderson, who will no doubt confirm his will to achieve to the highest standards and to train others to do so.

Geoff Bellis     Former Project Manufacturing Manager /Mechanical Engineer for British Rail 1965-1996

Welding Course

 I have just completed a welding course presented by David Riley or 'Dr Welder' as we have come to know him. Dave's knowledge of all aspects of welding, brazing and silver soldering have been invaluable to me. I would thoroughly recommend Dave to anyone, he's certainly a man who really knows his stuff.

Mark Bentley.