A Sunderland entrepreneur whose career has taken him from the Falklands War to factories across China, Russia and Mongolia is now helping businesses, heritage sites and homeowners solve problems using cutting-edge laser technology.
Terence (Terry) South, from East Herrington, runs Instant Surface Recovery (ISR Laser), a specialist engineering company based in Sunderland that uses advanced laser cleaning systems to restore and preserve everything from classic cars and historic buildings to industrial machinery and residential driveways.
Terry’s journey to becoming one of the region’s most innovative engineers has been anything but ordinary.
After beginning an apprenticeship during the decline of the UK’s shipbuilding industry in the late 1970s, he joined the Army, serving with elite forces including the Parachute Regiment and later the Commandos. Despite suffering a serious head injury in a car accident that left him temporarily paralysed, he fought his way back to full fitness and went on to serve during the Falklands conflict.
Following his military career, Terry spent decades working on major engineering projects around the world, including in Russia, China and Mongolia. He became fluent in Mandarin Chinese and held a Chinese residence permit for 23 years, working as an engineer, project manager and interpreter on large-scale infrastructure and industrial developments.
It was during his time in China that he first encountered laser cleaning technology.
“Before it was even being talked about in the UK, I could see how lasers were transforming engineering overseas,” said Terry. “They could clean metal, remove rust, reveal cracks and prepare surfaces without damaging them and without using chemicals or abrasive materials. I knew it was technology that had huge potential.”
Determined to bring those benefits home, Terry established ISR Laser and invested in specialist equipment capable of cleaning and restoring surfaces using nothing more than concentrated light. The technology is already being used on a diverse range of projects across the North East and beyond.
Recent work has included restoring staircases at Bamburgh Castle, removing graffiti from historic brickwork in Newcastle, cleaning valuable classic cars while preserving their originality, helping engineers inspect critical machinery components, and removing stubborn oil stains from domestic driveways without the need for costly replacement work. One homeowner was facing an £11,000 bill to replace a stained driveway before putting a property on the market. ISR Laser was able to restore the surface and save the cost.
The environmentally friendly process produces minimal waste and often requires less energy than traditional cleaning methods. Instead of relying on chemicals, sandblasting or water-intensive techniques, the laser evaporates contaminants and captures residue in a filtration system.
Terry believes the technology represents a major opportunity for British industry but says greater awareness is needed.
“Many businesses simply don’t know these solutions exist,” he said. “Other countries have been using this technology for years. Once people see what it can do, they immediately understand the benefits. It saves time, protects valuable assets and is much better for the environment.”
Despite approaching his seventies, Terry remains passionate about engineering and innovation.
“The North East has always been built on engineering excellence,” he said. “I’m still buzzing about what can be achieved. We need to embrace new technologies, invest in skills and inspire the next generation to keep pushing forward.”
