Imageco in PPE production drive

Imageco has produced 2,900 protective visors for medical and care staff in Yorkshire and across the UK, and raised £4,000 for charity in the process.

Since diversifying its print production facility due to the impact of Covid-19 the Leeds-based business - which was acquired by managing director Nathan Swinson-Bullough and co-owner Simon Harrison in an MBO in 2015 - has upped the manufacture of the PPE to up to 400 visors a day. Swinson-Bullough, who has furloughed 25 of Imageco’s 30-strong workforce after its usual print orders began drying up in March, 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.” After Imageco operations manager Edward Hillam came up with a cutter to use, Swinson-Bullough used clear PVC and plastic fixings which the firm already had in stock to trial making the protective face masks. “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,” he said. When individual donations began to arrive Swinson-Bullough set 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, which has its HQ in Barnsley, also offered its assistance in contacting 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. We are staggered at how it has all snowballed. People’s generosity, whether donating money or giving their own time, has been incredible.” Imageco has raised £4,000 and produced 2,900 visors so far, including buying a set of special visors designed for children’s hospices with a colourful rainbow motif. 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. To donate to the Imageco Just Giving page, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/imagecofacemaskfund