Watch our conversation with Paul here.
Video produced by Influence Media. Interview written by Tim Goodfellow.
You’re probably more familiar with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) than ever before.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we all had some contact with equipment or accessories designed to protect us. Those working in healthcare or health and safety will be particularly well acquainted with products like those made by the subject of this month’s interview, Ansell Ltd.
Ansell, a global safety solutions and PPE manufacturer, work in multiple sectors around the world but have a base in Hull.
This month we spoke to Paul Bryce, Vice President at Ansell for Europe, Middle East and Africa, about where the company is heading, the impact their products have and why they’ve chosen to partner with us here at C4DI.
How Ansell came to Hull
The company has a long history and in 2018 they celebrated their 125th anniversary. It all began in 1893 with the Australian branch of Dunlop Bicycle tires and a man called Eric Norman Ansell.
Almost 130 years later, Ansell are a global market leader and one of the largest providers of medical, household, and industrial gloves and chemical protective clothing in the world. To read more of their story, head to their website.
Hull came into the picture in 2015 with the acquisition of local business Microgard, merging to create the base in Hull. Paul was Sales & Technical Director at the time and has since seen the team move from Priory Park to Willerby where he says, they’ve “invested significantly in [their] facilities and expertise”.
“We've expanded our laboratory testing capabilities and the team itself - we now have a number of R&D chemists on site, continuing a long-standing partnership that we've had with the University of Hull. We’re continuing to push the boundaries on chemical testing, and furthering our knowledge of how Ansell products protect people from harm.”
Global protection
Ansell research, develop and manufacture products all around the world with the aim of protecting “the hand and body, from cut, impact, chemical, biological and other workplace hazards” in various sectors.
Of course, their products can be applied to various sectors and Paul elaborates on some of the interesting places they’ve been used. “We have clients in aerospace, automotive, hospitals, wind energy, and more and we're privileged to provide products to one of the largest logistics companies in the world … I'm sure most of us [use] them every week.”
Ansell gloves have even been seen on the hands of pit crew for “a certain Formula One driver who shall remain nameless…” (He might be a multi-time world champion).
That would be a product from their popular and innovative HyFlex glove range, the world’s first highly flexible multi-purpose, cut protection glove. You may even have a pair in your garden shed.
Paul is keen to point out the ‘sustainably sourced raw materials and energy efficient manufacturing processes’ that now go into them. This is all part of Ansell’s ongoing innovation.
Innovation in health and safety
As for the future of the industry, Paul is interested in the way that PPE is perceived by the outside world and how that can be altered.
“Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is often seen as the last line of defence. We prefer to be seen as part of a protection system.”
Even within health and safety, Paul says that PPE is often someway ‘down the food chain’ in people’s consideration. “Of course, as that last line of defence, if PPE fails then someone is going to get hurt or worse. So, the opportunity with technology is to move further up that hierarchy of control and indeed prevent injury, alert people to potential causes of harm before it's even got to the extent that you would rely on PPE to protect.”
One big area they’re looking at is how their products can use data to be smarter, more effective, and ultimately prevent injury.
“It’s not just how we use data from a business sense in terms of tracking numbers and trends, etc.” Paul says. “We have some exciting new technology that we're bringing to Europe which, will enable us for example, to track how people move their hands in logistics or manufacturing environments, such that we can predict when people are overextending or moving their arms in a way that may be damaging… looking to prevent musculoskeletal disease or repetitive strain injuries (RSI).”
“The innovation, the investment that's going on in technology within our space is phenomenal.” It’s partly why getting involved in C4DI was a no-brainer.
A two-way partnership
Through an introduction from community member and former Ansell employee Helen Gill, the company increased their involvement in the local tech incubation centre.
Paul recalls hearing the vision from C4DI as “something along the lines of allowing startup companies to flourish and be part of a group of like-minded individuals or companies. But at the same time, helping old dinosaurs, like ourselves, to become more in touch with the tech world.”
They were intrigued to find out what C4DI could “do for an old company like ours to get involved with the local community and help understand, what’s going on in this tech space.”
The company were also responsible, along with Helen, for putting on one of the most impressive and immersive events we’ve ever had in the C4DI building. Around the time of their anniversary, their event included members trying on Ansell products, posing for a photobooth, and listening to a couple of interesting talks, including first hand experiences of some of the important places their equipment had been used.
‘Ansell Protects’
Tackling the Ebola crisis
One talk was from Andy Dennis, an MSF nurse who had spent some time in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis.
“It was a compelling and heartfelt story that Andy had of the people of Sierra Leone.”
“One of the things that I'm most proud of, certainly in my history in this industry, is how we react to epidemics, or indeed, pandemic situations. The one that sticks out, other than the recent pandemic, of course, would be the Ebola crisis in 2014/2015.”
“From that, we've established incredible connections with some of the nursing staff that were there, particularly in Sierra Leone supporting the UK government's response against Ebola. And it was most profound for me because we saw the direct contribution of personal protective equipment to allowing healthcare professionals to do their job and ultimately support the people of Sierra Leone.”
Paul says this side of the business “really struck a chord, because quite often, we're behind our computer screens and you don't always get to see and engage with where our products have made a difference.”
You can read more about Andy’s experience in the book he wrote ‘Ebola: Behind the Mask’.
Keeping people (and the planet) safe
It's clear to see the direct impact Ansell products have and although linked to some very difficult and tragic circumstances, there is at least the sense that they are contributing positively to people’s lives.
Paul, who is a fan of the popular business book Start with Why by Simon Sinek, has a very clear ‘why’.
“What has kept me in this industry for 26 years is the fact that we keep people safe. It's as simple as that.”
He’s also keen to point out that “protecting people has to extend, by definition, to protecting the planet”. Unsurprisingly, sustainability is a key concern for this company and it’s something which excites Paul.
“The industry has a tremendous opportunity to reinvent itself, like all industries, to be part of a more sustainable future.” This includes getting to net zero and decarbonising the company by 2040.
“It's a challenge. One that must be embraced by all companies and by all of us as individuals. But it's an exciting challenge for the business in the coming decades.”
You could say it’s time to roll up our sleeves, slap on some (Ansell) gloves and get stuck in.