Intelligencer file photo by Henry Bury i Ed Lehtinen, president of Impacto Protective Products Inc centre won two major awards at the 5th Annual Business Achievement Awards last fa . lm?ac?o captured the business of the year (25 employees and up) as well as the overall Business Excellence Award. me company uses anotner 15 4home workers' who sew the pieces together for vibration destroyed the nerves in the finfinishing at the plant. gers and hands." Impacto has come a long way since its Lehtinen said these types of injuries beginning. In late 2001, it was named the don't happen overnight. Business of the Year (for 25 employees and "It's cumulative trauma injuries and it's up) and received the Business Excellence not reversible. So what you have to do is Award during the 5th annual Business prevent the injury from getting to the point Achievement Awards gala. of incapacitating you." The company sold $250,000 worth of Impacto's products are designed and specialized protective equipment in its first made here to provide workers with protecfull year of operation. tion from impact, vibration and repetitive Sales for next year are expected to strain. exceed $6 million. There are gloves to protect workers' "We've had an average sales increase of hands from vibration and impact, wrist 15 per cent over the past 15 years," Lehtisupports to prevent repetitive motion nen said proudly. injuries, anti-fatigue insoles, thermo wraps Sixty per cent of its exports are to the for the wrist, elbow, forearm, knee and United States while the rest is divided back, as well as back supports to prevent evenly between Canada, Europe and other those muscles from becoming strained countries. from doing the same job every day. Lehtinen said the largest growth potenIn the past few years the company added tial is in Europe "because those countries knee pads, and this past December the firm are now becoming aware of those types of acquired the rights to manufacture and disinjuries and what our products can do to tribute the patented Air Belt back support minimize the impact on workers." and other specialty products from Bruder Lehtinen feels there really is no end to Healthcare. the company's fortunes. The company employs 35 people. About "No matter how automated the assembly 20 are directly involved in the manufacture is, there is always repetitive motion and of the products during the single day-shift therefore workers will need protection. And at the plant. as more companies realize the need for They are involved in cutting and sewing these types of products, that should mean the products that are made of either leather, more business for us." stretch fabric or special polymers. Gloves and back supports also incorporate inflated air bladders to absorb impact.