Ruck Engineering sweeps in to support Great North Air Ambulance Service

Ruck Engineering, the Darlington-based industrial cleaning equipment specialist, has donated a pedestrian floor sweeper to the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) to help keep the charity’s aircraft hangar clean and safe for its maintenance team.

The MAC SW70B Pedestrian Floor Sweeper will be used at GNAAS’s headquarters at Urlay Nook, near Darlington, where one of the charity’s operational helicopters is stored and maintained. The donation will help the team keep the hangar floor clear of dust and debris, ensuring a safe and efficient working environment for the engineers who service the aircraft.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service provides life-saving emergency care across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Operating two helicopters and a fleet of rapid response vehicles, the charity responds to thousands of call-outs every year and relies on public donations and community support to continue its work.

Ruck Engineering, established in 1978, is one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of commercial and industrial cleaning equipment, serving businesses and public sector organisations across the country. Based in Darlington, the company provides machinery, maintenance, and consumables to industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare.

Simon Ruck, Managing Director of Ruck Engineering, said:
“We’re proud to support the Great North Air Ambulance Service, which does such incredible work across our region. As a local business, we wanted to make a contribution that would have a practical benefit, and helping the team maintain their facilities safely and efficiently felt like the right way to do that. This also continues a long-standing connection between my family and the charity. When my father, who founded the business, was Mayor of Darlington, he selected the Air Ambulance as his chosen charity. The work GNAAS does saves lives, and it’s a privilege to play even a small part in supporting their operations.”

Joe Garcia MBE, Chief Executive of the Great North Air Ambulance Service, said: “We’re very grateful to Ruck Engineering for their generous donation. The sweeper will make a real difference in maintaining a clean, safe environment in our hangar. 

“Aviation requires a meticulous level of accuracy and maintenance, and this equipment will be fundamental to the cleanliness regimen of the airside environment. 

“As a charity, we rely on the support of the community to continue our life-saving work, and contributions like this help keep us flying.”