Collection: The Spurlok Story

Spur of the moment

In 2016 a young electrician named Neo Mosudisa from Birmingham encountered a problem whilst at work. Whilst working as an apprentice electrical maintenance engineer in a steel factory he was asked to isolate a faulty water cooler that had given someone an electric shock. He quickly realised that he did not have a lockout device to carry out the safe isolation required and this would mark the beginning of a moment of inspiration and a journey of innovation. That evening after work Neo began sketching some designs for a fused spur unit lockout on some graph paper and over the course of the next few years he would spend his free time improving and refining his designs. 

Neo at the faulty water cooler in the factory in 2016

 

Formal recognition

In 2019 Neo entered Electrical Safety First's Product Safety Innovation Award with his concept which he had named 'Spurlok'. After presenting his innovative concept to a panel of industry experts he was shortlisted for the award and would go on to be presented with Electrical Safety Firsts Highly Commended Award at Church House in Westminster. With his newfound award and formal recognition Neo took his concept and developed his first proof of concept prototype. 

Neo is presented with Electrical Safety First's Highly Commended Award

 

Finished Product

In 2020 Neo would begin working with Innovate UK EDGE who introduced him to product development and manufacturing expert Roy Pulley. Roy played a significant role in mentoring Neo and would introduce him product designer Rob Harwood of Bespoke Product Designs who helped turnhis concept into a finished manufacturable model. 

After extensive design work, prototyping and user trials in 2022 Spurlok was finally ready for production. Neo teamed up with local manufacturer Andel Plastics to manufacture the injection mould tooling needed to produce Spurlok. In the meantime he assembled Spurlok into a high quality kit. In the summer of 2023 the mould tooling for Spurlok was completed which was shortly followed by the first Spurlok production run. 

Neo with his mentor Roy Pulley at Birmingham manufacturer Andel Plastics

 

A Change in Culture

7 years on from his moment of inspiration Spurlok is now a reality but Neo's work only starts here. As someone who works in the field, understands the dangers of electricity and the importance of safe isolation he is on a mission to change the way that safety products are perceived and help to create a change in culture that promotes safer working practices for electrical workers and supports regulations. He believes that if Spurlok can help save the life of just one electrician, gas engineer or other electrical worker then as far as he is concerned Spurlok is a success.