Ineos and Liniar have been named as the latest recipients of a COVID-19 Outstanding Achievement Award. The Worshipful Company of Horners, together with the British Plastics Federation (BPF) launched the award last year in recognition of outstanding achievement by companies or organisations in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The awards are testament to just how supportive the industry can be in times of need,” said Director General of the British Plastics Federation, Philip Law. Ineos received the award in recognition of their extensive efforts to build hand sanitizer facilities in the UK, Germany and France and for supplying 4 million bottles across Europe. Building facilities across Europe in a matter of days, INEOS helped deliver much-needed hand sanitiser to front line hospital staff in a rapid response to the first lockdown in 2020.
Liniar, a UK designer and extruder of PVCu profiles used in the manufacture of windows, doors and other uPVC products, received the award in recognition of their efforts in establishing a new production line producing protective face visors, which they produced day and night, and provided free of charge to front line staff and key workers.
Liniar’s design team initially trialled designs for a 3D printed visor, made up of a medical-grade headband and a simple A4 acetate sheet to be slotted in. The final design chosen was ergonomic, comfortable for the user to wear, and allowed a full range of movement whilst fitting over the top of masks and glasses.
“Both companies worked tirelessly to provide frontline staff with resources they need to help them save lives, and this award gives us an opportunity to thank them,” said the Master of the Horners, Martin Muirhead,
The first recipients of the award were Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood, and Summit Systems, for the development and production of face shields and the Defence Shield, respectively.
The Worshipful Company of Horners in London is both an ancient guild and livery company, and a modern City Institution. The Company operates under a Charter received from Charles I in 1638. As the craft of working with horn declined, in 1943 the Company had the vision to adopt horn’s modern equivalent, which is plastics.