THREE innovative Teesside firms have combined traditional manufacturing, film making and animation to create a digital showcase for an industry-first product.

Hartlepool-based expanded metal manufacturer The Expanded Metal Company has launched a new film to showcase its ExMesh Securilath product – the only security mesh range to be certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) when applied to metal stud, timber stud and block walls.

The film was produced by Middlesbrough-based Ithica Films – an independent, award-winning film company – which The Expanded Metal Company has worked with previously.

The film is also supported by stunning animations from Middlesbrough-headquartered Animmersion – a leading supplier in digital visualisation tools – who recently supported The Expanded Metal Company by creating a visualisation tool for its full expanded metal product range.

Highlighting Securilath’s ability to resist determined attack and prevent forced entry into a building, the film illustrates the product’s many benefits for the construction and security sectors.

Securilath was originally developed by The Expanded Metal Company in the 1990s as a discreet method to target harden critical areas.

It significantly delays determined intruders from creating an aperture large enough to gain entry to a building and can be situated within internal and external walls, ceilings, roofs and windows.

The recent enhancements to the Securilath range were made in response to the increasing use of metal stud wall systems in the construction industry and will help contractors and end users to meet insurance and security requirements.

Securilath can be fitted during construction or retro-fit and is used by worldwide financial institutions and retailers and at many high-risk sites, including key facilities within national infrastructure.

ExMesh products are developed and manufactured at The Expanded Metal Company’s 25,000 sqm site in Hartlepool, which is a long-established global centre for expanded metal expertise.

The firm, which has operated for more than 125 years, supplies high quality expanded metal mesh products for sectors including construction, filtration, engineering, transport, utilities, automotive, aerospace and architecture.

Philip Astley, managing director of The Expanded Metal Company, said: “Having worked with the talented teams at Ithica Films and Animmersion in the past, we knew that they were capable of creating a high impact, engaging film which would demonstrate Securilath’s qualities and effectively convey technical information to contractors and end users.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the results and it’s fantastic that we can draw on exceptional film making and digital expertise so close to our Hartlepool HQ.

“We’re all pioneering companies in our own right and this film showcases our innovative approaches to a global marketplace.”

Matt McGough, managing director of Ithica Films, said: “We’ve been working with The Expanded Metal Company since 2017 and it’s been great to work with people who are interested in collaborating with digital companies.

“They’ve given us a lot of freedom to come up with concepts that make their work stand out and they’ve put a lot of stock in the ideas we bring to the table.

“Bringing together ourselves and our 3D animation partner Animmersion has really helped us show The Expanded Metal Company products and innovations to an international audience in a very modern way.”

Samuel Harrison, managing director of Animmersion, added: “We always relish the opportunity of working on creative digital projects in the North-East. Working with Ithica Films and The Expanded Metal Company on this project was a pleasure as always and we are delighted that we were able to bring a little digital magic with creative storytelling to The Expanded Metal Company’s innovative products.

“It’s fantastic that The Expanded Metal Company embraces digital technology and creativity as it does and seeks to lead the way, taking the sector forward at every step.”

The Expanded Metal Company’s ExMesh range offers innovative fencing systems and security products which are designed to protect people, property and infrastructure from a broad array of threats. The firm was the first UK fencing manufacturer to be awarded ‘Secured by Design’ status.

The Expanded Metal Company works closely with contractors and end users to create bespoke solutions for their projects, drawing on its extensive design and manufacturing expertise, and high-class production capabilities.

When Securilath was launched, it was originally referred to as Expamet Securilath: Expamet was a brand name of The Expanded Metal Company, which had formed the Expamet International plc group of companies in 1918.

The Expanded Metal Company left the Expamet group under new ownership in 2006 but has continued to manufacture, supply and continuously develop Securilath since then.