Safety device hopes to safeguard North jobs
Sep 5 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal
AN INDUSTRIAL coatings and civil engineering firm is looking to set up a new factory to manufacture a device that allows painters and engineers to work safely on the side of ships, oil rigs and cranes.
Sunderland firm Abfad has been developing the magnetised device since setting up 10 years ago and is now looking to set up a factory to manufacture it for companies around the world.
The firm, which employs 25 staff and counts oil giants BP among its impressive list of customers, said that the production facility would be based in the North East and that around 20 jobs would be created initially based on initial interest in the product.
The invention is being developed under the Redcar-based The Magnetic Partnership, which was set up between Abfad’s three directors, and will eventually form the basis for a new company when it goes out to market next year.
The partnership recently received investment from the One North East funded Design Network North, which it used to bring in a design team to improve the product as well as discuss how its should be manufactured on an industrial scale.
Chris Haritou, health and safety and projects director at Abfad, said: “The new system allows anyone using rope access systems to fix themselves in place, saving time and radically improving safety for those working in these potentially dangerous environments.
