Ozzy Settles into Birmingham New Street 

After the incredible Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, our raging bull has been given a new lease of life by Network Rail, to be officially named Ozzy, rebuilt and placed in the heart of Birmingham New Street Station as a permanent installation.

image credit @Tim Ellis-Flickr

Approximately 50% of the bull has been remade, previously the bull was supported by a telehandler that moved him around the arena, so this time the bull had to stand on his own! Our fantastic crew got to working on making the legs static, and strong enough to hold up the colossal weight of the bull's torso and head.

As well as the legs being rebuilt, the underside of the bull was also receiving a makeover so it could be viewed in full 360 degrees, and finally the exterior shell of the bull had to be recast and painted in a fire-resistant resin, to meet indoor fire regulations.

The animation of the original bull was a mixture of puppeteering and animatronics, and for the new build the head, eyes, and tail, were all made automated with the use of electric linear actuators. Speakers were also installed to make it roar, a feature that is to be used over the first few days of its installation.

It took over 7,000 hours of work and a crew of 50 skilled people to bring Ozzy back to life, and what an honour an delight it is to have such an iconic Artem creation now permanently residing in the heart of Birmingham.

Watch the unveiling here!

You can also check out this great video from Chelmswood Junction giving you a tour of Ozzy as well as an interview with our CEO Mike Kelt.