Industry legend Bruce Mansell has been airlifted to a Sydney hospital following a serious car accident.
The Rapid Machinery founder was injured on 19 September, according to a statement released by his family on 21 September.
"Bruce is presently in a serious but stable condition having been airlifted to Westmead Hospital.
"Police are still working out how the accident happened but it involved a tourist bus and Bruce’s vehicle, which was towing a vintage car north on Old Northern Road. Bruce, 70, is also a keen restorer of vintage cars among his many engineering talents."
The statement added: "Bruce Mansell’s wife, Marion, who has been by his side every step of his business and life journey, remains at his side awaiting his recovery.
"The Mansell family has requested some space and privacy at this stage to deal with the immediate situation. A further statement will be issued in the near future."
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Mansell's son, Nick, who is general manager of Rapid Machinery, said the family was devastated that the accident had occurred just as Mansell had been able to spend more time on his passion for vintage and classic car restoration.
"Anyone that knows my father knows that he is a born fighter and will never give up," he said.
"He took on the world from the 1980s, manufacturing Rapid label presses here in Australia and exporting them to 54 countries.
"He is a familiar face at international trade fairs flying the Australian manufacturing flag and has earned the respect of customers and friends on every continent."
Mansell developed the world’s first optical plate mounting register system in 1980 and the world’s first all-gearless flexo press in 1995, according to Rapid Machinery.
Rapid was also first to deploy servo drives in its flexo presses and created the world’s fastest hotfoil stamping press. Rapid hotfoil, flexo and digital label presses have been installed and serviced in 54 countries through a network of specialist dealers, according to Rapid Machinery.
The family has asked for all messages to be sent to the family's representative, Andy McCourt, on mccourt.andrew@gmail.com
Good wishes will be printed out and delivered in batches so the family can focus on Mansell's recovery. ProPrint readers can also leave their comments below.
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