Man using a Wet Blast Processing Unit at DePuy, Beeston

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Geolocation data

DePuy Synthes, St Anthony's Rd, Beeston, Leeds LS11 8DT, United Kingdom (53°46′12″N, 1°34′11″W)

This is a photographic negative produced by photographer Ian Beesley. This was part of a project called 'Thackray Remembered' (Thackray 2011) which was commissioned by the Thackray Medical Museum to document the closure of a Thackray factory which manufactured hip and knee replacements. It was taken over by the American company DePuy who moved production to China.

This image shows a man wearing ear defenders and a DePuy uniform operating a machine. From other images of this machine and the label on the side of the unit I know this is a Wet Blast Processing Unit. The man operates the machine by putting his hands into two hand holes and watching his work using a window. There is a warning level with his shoulders that is difficult to read (but from other pictures advises the user to switch off to save energy after use) and a ear defender mandate on the side of the machine. A label on the far left of the frame reads 'Confined space by activity' and one can see another machine and what looks like a large vat in the background.

Year

2011

Creator

Ian Beesley

Image filename

H.2025.11.38.10A

Collection

Ian Beesley