A dental company that’s onside with Team UK for the Olympics welcomed business secretary, Vince Cable, to its offices this week.
OPRO in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, played host to the MP as well as Emily Atkinson, of the Under 21 England Hockey Team, and Lawrence West, England Hockey’s communications manager.
Dr Cable was led on a tour of the facilities by Paul Swann, OPRO/Smileguard’s laboratory director, where he was shown the special mouthguard that OPRO has designed for the Great Britain hockey team to wear during the 2012 London Olympics.
OPRO’s staff demonstrated to Dr Cable the complex manufacturing process involved in producing these bespoke mouthguards which OPRO has been delighted to make for all members of the team.
Much of the machinery used by OPRO to produce their product has been specifically developed by Dr Anthony Lovat BDS, founder and owner of OPRO, in conjunction with his Research and Development Team.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: ‘The 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games are a once in a generation opportunity to showcase what Britain has to offer.
‘For innovative companies like OPRO it’s a win-win situation – they are not only making the most of a fantastic business opportunity but are also directly supporting Team GB.’
Commenting on the visit, sales director, Richard Evans, said that he was delighted to welcome Dr Cable to OPRO and to have the opportunity to show him the innovative work the company undertakes.
‘We are a team at OPRO and everything you see here today is the result of the hard work of a group of dedicated employees. We wish the Great Britain Hockey Team every success at the 2012 Olympics and will take a keen interest in their progress through the competition.’
OPRO was founded in 1996 by Dr Lovat and since then the company has grown to one which employs 35 full time staff and supplies custom-fit mouthguards to over 1000 schools and clubs nationwide. OPRO mouthguards are the mouthguards of choice for both professional and amateur sportsmen and women worldwide and OPRO are the proud suppliers of mouthguards to all 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby Teams in addition to Great Britain Hockey, the ABAE and English Lacrosse.
In 2007, OPRO was honoured to receive the Queen’s Award for Innovation in recognition of its groundbreaking work in improving the oral protection of children and sports players.
