Fun for Generations ~ The growth of Blue Imp mirrors the growth of the playground industry

Fun for Generations ó The growth of Blue Imp mirrors the growth of the playground industry

IIn the beginning, there was steel.

Yes, itís a fact. The first playground equipment ever built was built of steel.

And Blue Imp was one of the first - if not the first - to build it. Blue Imp

Recreational Products of Canada Ltd. got its start in 1917 when Simon F.

Scott founded S.F. Scott Manufacturing Ltd. in Medicine Hat. Now in its fourth generation, this familyowned Canadian company has become a leader in the playground industry, and is widely regarded as North Americaís most trusted playground manufacturer. ìDesigning for safety and low maintenance are pre-eminent concerns,î says company president Don Scott. In the early years, S.F. Scott found success as a manufacturer of quality steel farm implements under the trade name Blue Implement. Aremarkable ingenuity, and an intricate knowledge of steel, enabled Scott to adapt the companyís product lines to meet the needs of everchanging markets.

By Don Scott

The company built its first swing set in 1936, almost 70 years ago. With materials hard to come by in the depression years, equipment was built using boiler tubing salvaged from decommissioned steam locomotives. It was in the 1950s, with the baby boom generation, that the playground industry really began to take off. People finally had time and money to devote to leisure activities.

When a local Lionís Club contracted S. F. Scott to build playground equip-

“Steel playgrounds stand up to rough weather and tough play. They are virtually vandal-proof and require very little maintenance,” says Don Scott, president of Blue Imp Recreational Products. Now in its fourth generation, this family-owned Canadian company has become a leader in the playground industry and is widely regarded as North America’s most trusted playground manufacturer.

ment for city parks, a new line was born. Manufacturing high quality playground products became the companyís primary focus; Blue Implement became Blue Imp. At that time Blue Imp manufactured playground pieces kids still love: swings, slides, see-saws and merry-go-rounds. Several of the original pieces are still in place today, still entertaining kids generations after being installed. ìWe have always chosen to build with durable materials that stand up to wear and tear,î states Scott. In the 1970s, consumer preference began to change. Freestanding steel equipment was out; modular wood playgrounds were in. As Blue Imp turned to manufacturing wood playgrounds, the companyís knowledge of steel and desire for quality once again resulted in a superior product. ìWe used galvanized steel pipe to reinforce the platforms and achieve the strongest possible connections,î comments Scott.

It wasnít long, however, before the interest in wood began to wane. Wood simply didnít wear well. It didnít stand up to harsh weather and rough play as compared to steel, and it was much more difficult and costly to maintain. ìWe were very relieved when the trend returned to steel,î says Scott. ìSteel is and always has been our medium. Itís what we do best.î

As the trend began to move back to steel, the playground industry, along with everything else, went high tech, and so did Blue Imp. The company has embraced each progression in the industry, and continues to invest in new in-house technologies in order to manufacture the best possible product. Ultra-creative, computer-aided design. Super durable polyester powder coatings. Computer-driven machines generating custom-routed panels, perforated steel and vinyl-coated components. Heavy-duty vinyl-coated decks and components. Hammerlocks. IPEMA, ISO, ASTM, CSA, CPSC. The list goes on.

Blue Imp now carries out virtually every aspect of production at its plant in Medicine Hat, manufacturing more than 95% of the products it sells. ìPerforming almost all the manufacturing ourselves gives us more control over the final product, and allows for greater versatility and flexibility. That means we can serve our customers better,î comments Stuart Scott, the fourth generation of Scotts to be involved in the enterprise.

The companyís most recent challenge has come from the world of plastic. To meet consumer demand, Blue Imp offers a wide selection of high quality plastic products, including slides, panels and roofs. However, many consumers have come to realize that steel has clear advantages over plastic. ìSteel stands up to rough weather and tough play. Itís virtually vandal-proof and itís much easier to maintain,î says Scott. For those reasons, some municipalities have now banned the installation of plastic playground equipment. Steel, with its longlasting durability, is once again becoming the material of choice.

As the playground industry evolves, of one thing there is no doubt. Blue Imp will keep pace, continuing to grow and change, continuing to build fun for generations.

______________ Don Scott, President of Blue Imp Recreational Products of Canada, is also the grand-son of the founder of S.F.Scott Manufacturing Ltd, the parent company of Blue Imp.