A Suffolk-based, market leading precast concrete manufacturer is making good progress in producing the 47 plinths upon which differently painted sculptures of the children’s character Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, will based throughout Ipswich between June and September this year.
Poundfield Products Ltd., based in Creeting St Peter and part of SigmaRoc Plc, an AIM listed company, has been commissioned by Wild in Art and St Elizabeth’s Hospice, Ipswich to manufacture the bases to a very strict specification.
The hospice is hosting Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk to celebrate its 30th anniversary, alongside Wild in Art, one of the leading producers of spectacular, mass-appeal public art events, which connect businesses, artists and communities through the power of creativity and innovation. The trail aims to raise money – and crucially awareness – for the hospice.
Poundfield Products has previously supplied plinths for projects in towns in various parts of the country, including for an earlier St Elizabeth Hospice/Wild in Art project – Pigs Gone Wild – in Ipswich a few years ago.
Tim Evans, Poundfield’s director – bespoke products explained: “To get each plinth absolutely identical, we invested in a new steel mould designed to precisely meet the dimensions provided by Wild in Art.
“After a few dummy plinths to ensure that everything was just right, we are now turning out one of these 664kg plinths each day – and so should met the tight deadline to ensure that all are in place in time for the Elmers being installed upon them.
“I suppose you could say that Poundfield is literally supporting the Elmer trail and although we have a national reach as a company, local projects of this sort are very close to our hearts” added Tim.
Norman Lloyd, Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk campaign manager visited Poundfield’s depot last week and was impressed with what he saw: “We know from Pigs Gone Wild that we are in safe hands working with Poundfield to produce our plinths, which is reassuring as it is a crucial part to get right!
“We are really pleased that from working with us back in 2016 they have gone on to support other Wild in Art trails; we want to see local companies thrive and it is great to be able to work with them again on this campaign.”
Photo credit: Paul Nixon Photography
