A COMPANY with magnetic appeal was today named among the winners of the coveted Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
Print company Leach Colour, of Bradley, won the innovation class of the business world’s premier awards for its magnetic graphics display system, STIK.
STIK has been used extensively in some of the world’s best-known retail stores, as well as in car showrooms, offices and heritage sites in the UK and abroad.
The system uses magnetic attraction to hold large format graphic display panels in place.
The system is made up of two elements, a permanent magnetic base and a flexible, high-quality graphic panel with a special ferrous coating.
Once the magnetic base has been installed the graphic panels can be put in place easily by the customer’s own staff, without the need for specialist training or equipment such as tools, nails, screws or glues.
The graphic panels can also be peeled off and replaced as required.
Managing director Richard Leach said: ‘We have been an innovative and pioneering company throughout our 117-year history, but this is much the most prestigious award we have ever won.
“The Queen’s Award carries worldwide recognition and I know that every member of our workforce feels as proud as I am of the team effort that has brought about this superb achievement.
“I am sure the award will enhance our standing further with our customers and suppliers and give us an edge over our competitors.”
Leach Colour was established in 1891 by Mr Leach’s great-grandfather.
It employs 80 people at its purpose-built 30,000sq ft premises at Bradley Business Park.
The company, which moved to the site from Brighouse in 2005, has invested more than £2m in the latest imaging and printing equipment to provide large graphics for customers.
These include supermarket chain Asda and The Arsenal Experience, a football museum at the London club.
Leach Colour is among 139 businesses to win the 2008 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in categories for innovation, international trade and sustainable development.
In addition, awards have been conferred on 11 individuals for their contributions to business excellence.
Fifteen awards to firms in Yorkshire included ones for a company designing marine electronic systems, a manufacturer of horse feed, a fish trader and a producer of digital set-top boxes.
