Leckey

 

1983 - While working as a Mechanical Engineer in Belfast, James Leckey becomes involved in a charity fundraising event to provide positional aids for special needs children in Northern Ireland.  When the equipment arrives James sees little evidence that it meets the needs of the children.  Working closely with locally based therapists and the children’s carers he develops an understanding of their needs and this helps him to design a range of highly adjustable seating, standing and bathing products specifically for the paediatric market. 

 

1988 – Leckey launches a new range of seating and standing products at Naidex at Alexandra Palace in London, which creates a surge in demand and results in the company expanding its sales from the Northern Ireland market to the national UK market.

 

1994 - Leckey launches the “Woosh Chair” which creates an immediate impact on the market with its attractive design and bright colours combined with a high degree of functionality.  

 

1994 -1998 - Leckey continues to introduce new products with the Woosh Stander, the Height Adjustable Chair and the Lifting stander.  In 1998, two of these products receive Millennium Awards and the company also receives a Northern Ireland Innovation Award.

 

2001 - The company launches the Leckey Advanced Seat (LAS), Advanced Bath Seat (ABC) and the Leckey Toilet Seat (LTS) and redesigns its remaining core product range to appeal more to the European and USA markets.  All the new products are exhibited internationally at the Medtrade exhibition in the USA and at Rehacare in Germany.  The new product range meets with international acclaim and sparks worldwide interest in the Leckey brand.  

 

2003 - Leckey launches the Contoured Advance Seat and a new multi purpose standing frame called the Horizon.  

 

2004 - Leckey begins a new product development strategy to replace the company’s existing product line. The new “user centred” approach recognises that the social and developmental needs of the child are different across different ages and the aesthetics, design and function of the products should reflect this. 

 

2005 – The company begins a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Ulster to strengthen and develop the company’s research skills and clinical knowledge. This proves very successful and feeds into Leckey’s product design and clinical training development.

 

2006 - The first phase of the new product development strategy delivers 13 new products to market, including the Squiggles Early Intervention Range, the Mygo Seating System and the Sleepform Night time lying System.  Leckey’s product range can be described as offering 24 hour postural care with its products for sitting, standing, walking, bathing, toileting and sleeping.

 

2008 – Leckey celebrates its 25 year anniversary with a party for all its employees. It has grown from one man to almost 100 employees, from a garden shed to three factory units and has touched the lives of many children worldwide.

 

2008-2009 – Based on its KTP project with the University of Ulster, Leckey develops a clinical education programme Leckey “KnowHow”. The programme supports the product development programme and aims to teach the principles of good postural management to therapists, carers and parents to help them understand the clinical design intent behind the new products. The company also starts to publish pioneering evidence based case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of the company’s products in meeting the therapist’s objectives.

 

2009 – Leckey adds the instantly popular Kidwalk to its product portfolio in the UK and Ireland markets. The product, which allows children with complex needs to walk without someone helping them, is a hit at exhibitions and demos around the country. 

 

2010 – Leckey extends its product range to include children with low levels of complexity by launching the Pal Classroom Seat.

 

2010 – Having won the Northern Ireland final of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) awards, Leckey and the University of Ulster win the UK National KTP Award for their collaborative work. James is also made an Honorary Fellow of the College of Occupational Therapists, the first person from industry to receive this honour.

 

2010 – The Company introduces the Kit Seating System for teens and adults with complex needs. This is the final phase of the development strategy which began in 2004, and which gives Leckey a product range for all ages – babies, children, teens and adults. Leckey also updates Squiggles and Mygo, adding further features and benefits.  Leckey’s new mobility chassis receives widespread acclaim at its launch at the Posture Mobility Group (PMG) Conference in Glasgow.

 

Future

2011 will be an exciting year for the company. It has recently purchased a large new factory in Lisburn, close to Belfast, and will move into it during Spring/Summer 2011. The new facility has all the space that the company needs to move forward during its next 25 years.