Member Article

Exports driving growth for digital animation team

IT’S lights, camera and action for a North East video animation company that has created new jobs and signed a potentially lucrative US contract.

Middlesbrough-based Animmersion, a 3D computer graphics company, has secured a contract with a manufacturing firm from Kansas.

The contract will see Animmersion create a series of product videos for Vortex Valves and has led to the creation of two new jobs.

The relationship was formed after Vortex Valves found they couldn’t get the same quality of service and creativity in the US.

Dominic Lusardi, Animmersion’s Managing Director, said: “Branching out into the US is a fantastic boost for the business and caps what have been the best few months in our seven year history.

“Vortex Valves is one many new contracts we’ve secured recently and could lead to a lot more work. They have a huge product range and we’re in talks to produce 3D video animations for all of it.

“We produced an initial video which they were very impressed with so they asked us to produce more animations for use as demonstration videos on their website and for marketing purposes.

“They liked how we could be both creative and methodical and offer excellent customer service – something they just weren’t getting in the US.”

To cope with the extra workload the company has recruited two new members of staff to work as 3D animators.

Ensuring creative talent stays in the region the new recruits, Nick Ruddock and Tim Yearby, are both graduates from Teesside University, just like Animmersion’s founders Dominic and Sam Harrison. The company now employs 11 people.

Animmersion is based in DigitalCity’s Boho One, a building the company know a lot about, it designed the 3D computer model for Boho One and then became one of its first residents four years ago.

Lusardi said: “What started as an idea seven years ago has grown into a thriving and well established business.

“Winning new contracts and being able to take on new staff is a great feeling.

“We initially received a lot of support to assist in the development of a sales strategy and improved business practices from DigitalCity Business and this helped us put into place the building blocks that have allowed us to grow.”

As a Digital City Business member Animmersion was able to access the help and advice of Digital City’s team of business growth experts.

Mark Elliott, DigitalCity CEO, said: “Animmersion is a fantastic business and DigitalCity success story.

“The team at Animmersion has worked extremely hard and are a model of the sort of creative, entrepreneurial business that DigitalCity and Middlesbrough is increasingly becoming known for.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ian Benet .