Print specialist switches to churning out protective equipment
A print company has produced 2,900 protective visors for medical and care staff across the UK since it diversified its production facility after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Imageco, in Leeds, normally produces large-format branding for the likes of Adidas and other retail giants.
It was acquired by managing director Nathan Swinson-Bullough and co-owner Simon Harrison in an MBO in 2015, and has moved to the manufacture of the PPE since it was forced to halt production after its clients cancelled orders in March.
The firm is now producing up to 400 adjustable visors a day, with them being dispatched to frontline staff at hospitals, care homes and hospices in Yorkshire and across the UK.
After furloughing 25 of its 30-strong workforce, Swinson-Bullough was keen to put the company’s production facilities to good use.
He relied on the help of colleagues and volunteers to switch the firm’s high-tech equipment and design expertise to making the protective face visors.
He said: “As a team we’re all about bringing creative ideas to life and clients know us for our innovative approach, so I was convinced we would be able to come up with a way we could help.
“When we started out on this initiative though I didn’t realise how big it would become.
“Producing the adjustable visors turned out to be relatively straightforward and we were able to give the first 160 we made to the neurology team at Leeds General Infirmary.”
Individual donations soon began to arrive and Swinson-Bullough had the idea of setting up a Just Giving page to raise money and boost production.
Within three days £1,000 had been raised, at which point the print trade organisation FESPA UK Association, whose head office is in Barnsley, also offered assistance to contact local hospices and care homes to see if they required visors.
Swinson-Bullough added: “The support of Suzi and Carol at FESPA UK has been incredible and we have formed a great team.
“As well as FESPA UK, our own staff and their friends and families, the South Yorkshire Police are also on board with this now, which has helped to spread the word and also to deliver to some of the places that need the visors.”
The equipment has been delivered to care teams across the UK, including in Rotherham, Leeds, Sheffield and Glasgow.
The business is also working on other covid-19 related projects, including producing a range of sustainable hand sanitation stations and social distancing floor signage for commercial clients.
