1. A medical textiles company that makes grafts to replace vessels
in the body, based in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire
All images courtesy of Vascutek

2. Beaming: up to 480 threads of polyester yarn are wound on to a large spool for use on the weaving and knitting machines

3. Knitting machines at Vascutek knit polyester tubes of different diameters.

4. The knitting machines can knit a number of different grafts at the same time.

5. The knitting machines need to be checked all the time to make sure no stitches are dropped. A hole in a graft could cause very serious health problems!

6. The knitted tubes go to the Sewing Section where branches are added, e
The knitted tubes go to the Sewing Section where branches are added, e.g. 3 for a triple bypass.

7. Knitted grafts are used in areas of the body where there is lots of movement,
for example, knees, elbows, shoulders etc.

8. Woven grafts are used in areas like the heart or aortic vessels where they need to be very strong.

9. Titanium rings are added to woven grafts for extra strength.
Titanium hooks can also be hand sewn into the graft to help the surgeon anchor the graft in the patient’s blood vessel.

10. Over 800 people work in many different roles at the Vascutek factory in Inchinnan, making these amazing textile products.

11. Grafts can cost thousands of pounds and are sold across the world.
The products save the lives of many patients suffering from heart or vascular disease and allow them to lead healthy active lives.
Vascutek products have saved soldiers’ limbs on the battlefield by keeping blood flowing to a severed limb after a mine blast.

12. To learn more about Vascutek, please visit:
All images courtesy of Vascutek