Lifesaving new product made in Hull has global applications
A new healthcare product developed and manufactured in Hull by Orvec International could soon be saving lives on the roads around the UK and Europe.
Hessle-based Neill & Brown Global Logistics is equipping its trucks with a unique emergency thermal blanket in collaboration with Orvecare, a division of Orvec International.
The Orve+Wrap thermal blanket functions by capturing a person’s heat and using thermal pockets to create convection heat to raise, then maintain, core temperature.
A specially designed laminate, it has twice the thermal TOG rating of a typical summer duvet that will alleviate hypothermia and maintain normothermia. It is beneficial in acute emergencies or elective surgery and has been trialled at the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and is exclusively used for proactive patient warming at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital.
Colin Moody, managing director of Neill & Brown Global Logistics, said: “These unique blankets can be used to keep the drivers warm and dry in any breakdown situation. And as professional drivers are often first on the scene at an incident they could offer support until medical help arrives.”
Kevin Stamp, managing director at Orvec International, a specialist converter of woven and nonwoven textiles, said: “The suggestion of Neill & Brown Global Logistics vehicles carrying Orve+Wrap came about following discussions between us, St John Ambulance and the Highways Agency on how to improve road safety.
“Orve+Wrap can be used in any situation where a person is required to be warmed or kept warm and it is ideal for life-threatening situations such as a road traffic accident.
“It has been designed and developed in Hull by our research and development team of textile specialists and project engineers. And working from the initial product concept our project engineers also designed and developed the machinery to manufacture the product here in East Yorkshire.”
The two companies have worked together for more than 10 years with Neill & Brown Global Logistics providing about 90 per cent of Orvec International’s logistics and transport needs around the UK, Europe and the Far East.
With a £14m annual turnover, Orvec International has more than 35 years’ experience in manufacturing passenger comfort products for airlines and transport companies. The company employs 46 staff in Hull and 84 in China in its wholly-owned subsidiary, and is part of the Phipps and Co Group of Companies.