Our History

Early 50's

In the early 50’s Harlow Printing Works Northern Limited was a single shop in Fredrick Street South Shields. Paper storage and Printing was produced at the back of the shop. Some of our personnel that have recently retired commenced their apprenticeship in the shop retiring after 50 years service.

Christmas Party 1950

The Christmas Party in the 50’s was quite an event for the staff and their families. If you recognise anyone in this picture please do let us know. Some of the more long serving members we know but some of the staff in this picture moved on many years ago.

Late 50's

 By the Late 50’s we had bought the shop next door, doubling both our manufacturing and retail capacity

1962 Moved to our New Factory

 In 1962 we moved to our new factory in Maxwell Street South Shields. The picture is of Number 1 factory, prior to the extension and acquisition of the factory next door. Harlow Products In Fredrick Street continued trading until the late 70’s

1980 Fire Destroys Factory

The company continued to expand and in 1980 was subject to an arson attack which destroyed one of our specialist product factories.

Early 80s

 In the early 80’s computers with sprocket feed printers were replacing the traditional sets and books used in business administration. In 1982 we installed the first in a new generation of business forms presses. This picture is of the very first Morgan Microband press ever produced in the U.K. and installed in our No2 factory.

1984 Increased Demand

 By 1984 demand for our products had doubled and we installed a second Morgan Microband press. This press is significantly more sophisticated than the first installation and we incorporate both reel to reel and reel to sheet production on a single press.
 

1990 The development of our web site

www.healthforallchildren.co.uk was created to provide reference support for the child health standards written by Prof Sir David Hall and David Elliman. The PCHR or red book as it is generally known and new growth standards for children in the UK were launched. Over the last 20 years Harlow Printing Limited in Partnership with professional organisations has worked continuously to improve and introduce new standards for the benefit of children throughout the world including:-

• The design and development of the PCHR (Red Book)
• UK National Standards for growth including BMI
• Personal Health Record for Nigeria
• Growth charts for New Zealand
• Growth standards for children with specific conditions such as Down’s Syndrome, Sickle Cell, Turners Syndrome and other conditions
• Personal Health Record for Scotland

1994 First Personal Child Health Record & Growth Charts

In 1994 we launched the first Personal Child Health record ( the red book ) which has developed and is now accepted as the PCHR, issued to all children in the UK. 

2000 The development of specialist paediatric software

2008 warehouse and distribution centre

Continued success in providing print management solutions required the provision of a dedicated service centre. In March 2008 we opened our 35,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre providing a stock managed service to customers throughout the United Kingdom.

2011 colour process equipment

The introduction of the latest colour process equipment providing a high quality low cost option for the production of full colour printed products. The investment has been complimented by the introduction of a new studio complete with industry standard software and hardware to the highest possible specification.