COVER STORY: Celebrating half a century of design

This year, British clinical equipment manufacturer, Anetic Aid, is celebrating quite a milestone: it is 50 years since the roots of the company were first established by an enterprising engineer who spotted an opportunity to open a workshop fabricating stainless steel medical furniture in Hampshire on the south coast. There were no sophisticated electronics or space-age materials back then – but the principles of good design and high-quality manufacture were there at the outset, just as they are today.

The man behind the great idea was Ivor Schofield, the late father of current Anetic Aid CEO Guy Schofield. Ivor, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, had experience in aeronautical and naval businesses, latterly as Joint Controller of Engineering. But that wasn’t enough for Ivor: he wanted his own business – the chance to realise his potential and use his flair for design, his engineering expertise, drive and determination to overcome obstacles and take an idea from the drawing board through to a practical solution in the real world

Another major piece of the jigsaw was his relationship with fellow entrepreneur, Tom Brady, who was already selling the medical furniture as part of a range of instruments and other medical supplies