Consett giant angels take flight of hope

Jedward, U2 guitarist The Edge and actors Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson are just some of the celebrities to decorate fibreglass angels produced in the North East by Consett-based company Lamplas.

One of the UK’s leading plastics engineering companies, Lamplas has temporarily turned its back on motor homes and caravans to start loving angels instead.

The polymer engineering company landed a contract from the Ireland-based Angels – Beacons of Hope initiative to produce 52 specially designed giant angels. The 8ft tall, glass reinforced plastic heavenly bodies are now winging over to Ireland on a two-month tour having been decorated by some of the country’s finest artists, musicians and celebrities. In March, the angels will return to Dublin to be auctioned in aid of three charities.

Michael Gallagher, business and product development manager for LAMPLAS on the Castleside Industrial Estate, said everyone was full of enthusiasm for the project. “We are among the largest glass reinforced plastic moulders in the UK and can develop projects from initial concept and design, through development to manufacture but this is the first time we have been involved with a unique charity like this and we delivered on time and to budget,” he said.

“Our work is usually in the commercial vehicle, holiday home and domestic markets but our multi-skilled staff and supply partners jumped at the chance to show off their creative and artistic talent. Everyone involved was really enthusiastic and pleased to work on the project because it is for such good causes and to see all 52 angels lined up was certainly different and quite a sight,” said Michael.

LAMPLAS was asked to produce the angels by a designer working on the project in Ireland.The moulds were made with the help of supply partners who produced a computer design model and the tools needed for production.

“The design of the angels meant they had to be made in separate sections and bonded together,” said Michael. “We also had to take into account that they were going to be painted so had to make them in a white matt finish primed ready for painting. The whole project took about six weeks to complete with a small group of employees working full time to make and bond the angels together.

“ We were more than happy to apply our expertise to something slightly more quirky. It shows the depth of creativity and talent that there is in abundance in Durham. If Durham’s bid to be UK City of Culture is successful then that creativity will really take flight,” he said.

Decorated angels can be viewed at http://www.pbase.com/maire/beacons_of_hope