It takes a lot of thought and effort to design and produce furniture for the health industry but Bradford firm Knightsbridge Furniture have become experts in it.

The firm, based in Thornton Road, has been selling a wide variety of furniture to the health service for 40 years and, in that time, has gained an insight into its needs.

The company, which was started in 1945 by Dr Arnold Moore, had a workforce of four and was based in Leeds Road. Dr Moore is well-known in the district for the War on Cancer appeal which he founded.

Since then it has developed links with other sectors and is now split into three divisions - Contract, which specialises in health care, Corporate, which concentrates on big companies and Hotel & Leisure. The firm has developed a group of companies which includes James Chase which specialises in church furnishings.

Over the years it has grown so that now the Knightsbridge Furniture Group has a turnover of just short of £10 million and employs 200 people.

The firm won its "on-contract" status when it was first moved into the market. At the time of the original NHS contract the firm carried out an in-depth study of what chairs were used for in hospitals. The study helped the Government set the standard for the type of furniture it wanted in the NHS.

Over the years the way the health service operates has changed and recently Knightsbridge design director Robert Box and marketing manager Tracey Wade toured Britain looking at about 12 hospitals to see how things had changed.

The company took its finding to the research and development team who thought about the need for comfort and stylish products which would appeal equally to the NHS and private sector.

The firm is now all set to launch its new Healthcare Package Scheme later this year which offers a variety of furniture for both sectors. Among them are a drop armchair and recliner and a range of furniture for use at patient bedsides, day rooms, waiting areas and consultants' offices.

The firm is also a leading light in the hotel and leisure market and has provided furniture for such prestigious sites as the Gleneagles, the Hilton in Prague and a number of David Lloyd Leisure Centres.

The firm also has a Corporate Connections Division which was launched in 1995 to provide a variety of furniture products for companies.

Its clients have included the BBC, the Department of Trade and Industry and PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants.

Margaret Miller, the firm's managing director, said: "The Knightsbridge name is synonymous with innovation and quality across every market in which we are represented and having held the initiative in this sector for so long, it is our intention to remain at the head of the pack for many years to come."

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