The Langer Group marks a new era with celebrity opening of new base |
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| April 2010 |
| GUESTS including more than 100 medical professionals from all over the country- and a celebrity footballer – made the official opening of The Langer Group's new base a day to remember. |
| Although some guests from overseas were prevented from attending because of the volcanic cloud air disruption, the turn-out was excellent with podiatrists, chiropodists and physiotherapists from the NHS and private practices all over the country taking the opportunity to learn more about us. |
| Last year we took over TM Custom in Derbyshire and RX Laboratories in Somerset. With each company making products in different ways, the move has allowed for the different processes to continue under one roof, giving customers loyal to each brand the quality products they have been used to for decades. |
| Guests took the opportunity to see the various manufacturing processes on a factory tour, attend prescription writing classes and meet employees, including many who have honed their skills over years of working with us. |
| Previously based in Cheadle in Staffordshire, the move was only a few miles but has placed The Langer Group on a two acre site, with 16,000sq ft of manufacturing space and a further 10,000ft of offices. |
| Operations director, Peter Taylor, said: “The open day gave us the opportunity to meet with our customers face-to-face and the feedback we had was excellent. Many travelled a great distance to meet us and our thanks go to everyone who attended." |
| One guest who didn’t have to travel too far was Stoke City Football Club’s £3.25m new goalkeeper signing Asmir Begovic who came from the premier league club's Britannia Stadium a short distance away to perform the official opening. |
| The 22 year-old Bosnian International, who joined the premier league Potters in February, was interested in the technology involved in making the devices and the benefits they can bring to athletes. |
| He delighted workers by signing autographs and presenting a signed shirt which is to be raffled off for a local hospice. |
Orthoses give Olympic hopeful a fighting chance |
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| Langer's orthotic devices are popular with sportsmen and women who find they enhance performance and help promote healing after injury. |
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Now an Olympic hopeful is feeling the benefit of our custom-made products as he trains for a boxing championship. |
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After injurying his back playing rugby, Belfast-born Aziz Mahdi thought his hopes of representing his country were dashed but help was on hand from a fellow student at Manchester University, Dan Bishop. |
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Fortunately for Aziz, Dan's dad is Adrian Bishop, our managing director and it wasn't long before the boxer was sporting orthoses in his boots. |
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After just a couple of weeks of wearing the products he was suffering less lower back pain and is now back training for English Universities Boxing Championships in December 2009 where he is tipped to be scouted for the British Olympic boxing team. |
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Mr Bishop said: “Dan told me about an Olympic hopeful in his halls of residence who was a great sportsman but had back problems which were hindering his training. |
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“We were glad to put him on the road to recovery, especially at this crucial time when so much is hanging on selection for the Olympics.” |
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But it is not only athletes who benefit from Langer devices. As few people have perfectly-matched legs and feet, leading to unevenness in the way they move, a defective gait and posture is a common problem in all ages. |
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Dan, who is studying architecture at the university, said: “To most people Langer UK is a company making products to help people walk better but they can help just about anyone.”
Follow the links on the website to see how Langer devices can help you. |
Langer UK is the region's number one Investor in People - and that's official! |
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| Our commitment to training and creating a working environment which brings out the best in staff has been recognised with major Investing in People Award, presented by the Sentinel newspaper group as part of their annual Business Awards scheme. |
| Sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council, the award aims to highlight the efforts of companies dedicated to developing a world-class workforce - as we are at Langer and after fending off tough competition from companies across Staffordshire, we were delighted to be honoured at a glittering awards ceremony at the Best Western Stoke-on-Trent Moathouse Hotel. |
| There, judges praised not only our training initiatives but our research and development of new products to combat a wide range of painful conditions, such as our diabetic shoe which has also been awarded a major innovation grant. |
| The awards, now in their 15th year, are presented in association with the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry – and the Chamber's chief executive, Bryan Carns, has sent his own personal message to congratulate us on our success. |
| In a letter to Langer managing director, Adrian Bishop, he described the awards as 'uplifting.' He said: "To win the award for Investing in People augurs well for Langer UK in as much as staff will be well equipped to deal with the upturn when it arrives. Many congratulations on your outstanding achievements." |
| Mr Bishop, who attended the event, said: "The tough economic climate made the Investing in People category an interesting one. Due to the quality of our products and the increasing demand for them, we are in the enviable position where we can invest in training initiatives to bring out the best in our employees. |
"As a result we have one of the most highly-skilled workforces in the orthotics industry and a talent base we can be proud of." |
| Over 90% of our staff are trained to NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Manufacturing, Stores Procedures, Health and Safety and Customer Service. Around half are working for European computer driving licences and three are on adult apprenticeships. These skills combined with high-tech manufacturing processes combine to provide top quality products and top class customer care. |
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Regional newspaper recognition for Langer |
| Investing in People means a lot to us at Langer UK - so much so we have been nominated for a major award after creating one of the most highly-skilled workforces in the orthotics industry. |
| Our training efforts have been recognised by The Sentinel regional newspaper group which is staging its annual Business Awards ceremony on March 31 when Langer will be a strong contender for the Investors in People award, sponsored by the Learning & Skills Council. |
| The awards, now in their 15th year – and presented in association with the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NSCCI) – are a firmly established highlight of the region's business calendar. |
| Langer Managing Director, Adrian Bishop, who will be attending the event, said: "The tough economic climate makes Investing in People an interesting category. Due to the quality of our products and the increasing demand for them, we are in the enviable position where we can invest in training initiatives to bring out the best in our employees." |
| The vast majority of staff have gained NVQs in areas ranging from health and safety to customer service. A number have gained their ECDLs (European computer driving licences) while others are working towards it or developing their potential through adult apprenticeships. |
| Everyone who starts at Langer goes through a period of one-to-one training and the company remains a business where virtually every member of the workforce contributes to research and development, pooling their knowledge and ideas. The mood is one of optimism and people pulling together to drive the company forward. |
| Mr Bishop added: "Highly trained staff and the latest technology are combined at Langer to provide top quality products and efficient services. |
| "Over 90% are trained to NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Manufacturing, Stores Procedures, Health and Safety and Customer Service. We take pride in the fact they are among the most highly-trained orthotic manufacturing personnel in the country.” |
| Employees speak highly of the welfare policy at Langer and are looking forward to the company's move to a new showpiece factory on Hillside Industrial Estate in Cheadle where investment in people will remain a priority on top of the new build costs. |
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Diabetic Shoe Grant Success |
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Langer UK is celebrating news of a £30,000 grant towards production of a 'diabetic shoe' specially designed to prevent the chronic ulceration associated with the disease.
It has taken a major slice of the funding allocated by Advantage West Midlands and the European Development Fund to support innovation and product development in the region.
Launched in 2008, The Advantage Proof of Concept Grant Fund gives hand-outs of up to £30k to businesses and universities developing innovations that have significant economic potential..
Langer's diabetic shoe concept went before a panel of 20 experts before being awarded the maximum grant available under the scheme and now it is all systems go to bring the design to the market by the summer.
Our research and development staff used the complex rules of geometry and the physics of ground-reaction forces to mastermind a design which encases the foot and prevents the shearing that can lead to serious problems.
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The shoe, already protected by an international patent, will be available in a variety of different designs and colours.
Langer operations director, Peter Taylor, said: "Ulceration and the fear of amputation causes huge distress to diabetes sufferers and with Type 2 diabetes on the increase due to contributory factors such as obesity and lack of exercise, something had to be done.
"Our diabetic shoe is made from a specially-developed material which helps limit sliding and mitigates damage. It revolutionises care of the diabetic foot by breaking away from the traditional method of simply cushioning the at-risk areas.
"After two years of research into the design, we were delighted to be recognised by the fund which gives us the support we need to bring this product to market and expand research in other areas."
The design works on the principle of total contact with the shoe and foot moving in concert. A rigid rocker sole helps eliminate friction during a natural step from heel-to-toe.
A three-phase clinical evaluation will be staged to assess its effectiveness on diabetes sufferers, non-sufferers and others using a placebo device.
Mr Taylor added: "It is an exciting time because we are close to a marketable product which has potential to be life-changing, and in some cases life-saving, for patients worldwide.”
• Health care professionals interested in the care of diabetes sufferers are invited to take part in a free webinar event on March 11.
• Places are limited. Contact Langer UK on 01538 755861 for more information.
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Wear It Pink Day |
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| Staff at a Langer UK had devilish fun when they came to work in fancy dress to help raise cash for Breast Cancer Campaign. |
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| Colleagues at Langer UK on the Brookhouse Industrial Estate gave Wear It Pink Day a new twist by donning Halloween outfits instead. |
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| A spellbinding array of witches and a gruesome gaggle of ghouls descended on the factory where a charity auction and buffet were also staged to boost funds for the charity. |
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| Langer also laid on a buffet with workers paying £1.50 to help themselves to hearty platefuls. Raffle tickets were also sold with the star prize being a Friday off work. |
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| Managing director, Adrian Bishop, "Staff have supported Wear It Pink Day for many years but this year they wanted to do something a little different for the charity. As the fundraiser fell on October 31, they went for a Halloween theme. |
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| "They really went to town on their outfits, paying £2 to wear them to work. We were delighted with the effort they made." |
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| Workpals raised more than £200 for the charity and Langer also chipped in with a donation. |
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New Building |
| Months of speculation over the future of the Langer UK base in Cheadle turned to celebration after councillors gave a unanimous vote in favour of a state-of-the-art development on Hillside Industrial Estate. |
| After trading successfully for more than 25 years on Brookhouse Way Industrial Estate in Cheadle, a new factory became crucial to the future expansion of the company but after investigating 46 potential sites locally, none met the criteria for soaring production needs. |
| Planning permission was sought to turn an old slag heap off Draycott Cross Road into a high-tech facility which will meet the spiralling demand for Langer's top quality orthotic products worldwide while providing an attractive first impression to international visitors. |
| District councillors heard how it would create a pleasant working environment for existing workers and provide a shot in the arm for the local economy by creating new jobs in the long term. |
| They were told the company had used 19 different agents to search for an alternative site locally and had the backing of all employees in its bid to stay in Cheadle - as well as a petition of support signed by 1,000 local people. |
| The scheme was given full backing by councillors who praised the company's commitment to Cheadle and the eco-friendly design including solar panels and wind turbines for energy. |
| Managing director, Adrian Bishop, said: “The weeks leading up to the planning meeting were a tense time for us because so much hinged on the application. But we couldn’t have wished for more support from local councillors nor indeed from local people." |
| “We just want to say a massive thank-you to everyone who backed us. It is our intention to stay in Cheadle, build a factory the town can be proud of while creating new jobs and fabulous training opportunities." |
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Footy fans net support from Langer |
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| A JUNIOR football side is stepping out in fashionable fleecy coats after winning the support of Langer UK. |
| Cheadle Town under 14s had outgrown football jackets donated to them three years ago and faced a cold season of matches while struggling to find the cash to buy more. |
| Assistant manager, Joy Worthington, who works as a caster at the Cheadle factory, asked company bosses to help out and was thrilled when they offered to kit the boys out in quality coats, personalised with their own badges. |
| The boys, aged 13 and 14, made their debut in them at a match against Hanley Town at their homeground, Thorley Avenue in Cheadle, in September and sported their jackets all season. |
| Mother-of-three Joy said: “Most of the lads have been playing since they were in primary school and their kit coats had seen better days. They couldn’t close them because they were either too small or the zips were broken. Trying to fund a strip is hard enough so they were really delighted to get the backing of Langer. |
| "We would never have been able to afford jackets of this quality. They are waterproof with a fleecy lining and fully reversible making them great for all weathers.” |
| Operations director, Peter Taylor, said: “We employ local people and have a great skills base here which is why we plan to invest such a lot in our future in Cheadle. |
| “After 25 years in the town we like to support community organisations as much as we can, such as Cheadle in Bloom in the summer and now the junior footballers. |
| “The youngsters show fantastic dedication to their sport and out in all weathers, we thought this was one way we could give them some encouragement and show our commitment to the town.” |
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