About Us
Genus is the trading name of J & J Negus Ltd, which has been trading since 1974 from its headquarters in Warwickshire. Employing 50 staff, we service customers in over 60 countries worldwide.
Founded on a commitment to preserving and sharing the world’s cultural heritage, our journey began in 1974 with a focus on microfilm. Now, over 50 years later, we have evolved into a leader in preservation and conservation, proudly serving as the exclusive Fujifilm reseller for the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region and manufacturing and distributing consumables and equipment worldwide.
Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, the Grand Master of art, engineering, and creativity, our approach combines a profound respect for history with the forward-thinking innovation essential to safeguarding it for future generations. This spirit of mastery drives us to reinvent how history is captured, experienced, and shared. Our high-end digital capture and preservation studios blend artistry with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that legacies endure for centuries to come.
Our Company Timeline
Genneg Associates – was created to meet the demands of a niche microfilm consumables market, by John Negus. It started at home in Sheepy Magna.
Moved to rented premises in Coton Road, Nuneaton. We started selling microfilm consumables to both Trade and Retail.
Name changed to The Microfilm Shop -
In June ’84 we cut the first ground on our brand new premises on Attleborough Fields Ind Est, Nuneaton, and in November ’84 we moved in.
Started magazine The Micrographic Market Place that later turned into The Green Sheet and now IDMi.
We opened an office and a warehouse in France.
We also started marketing worldwide
We started manufacturing our own products – cartridges, spools, boxes etc.
Micrographics Modem was launched- Filofax style catalogue and price updatable album. English version launched in January, the French in May and the German in June ’94.
We started manufacturing microfilm jackets with creation of The Microfilm Factory Company.
Our warehouse in Nuneaton extended to twice its original size.
We started striping and cutting 105mm Diazo products.
Paul Negus becomes Managing Director.
We gained certification to ISO 9001 for Quality Management.
We purchased JRK ImaginGraphics – European distributor of microfilm diazo, REAL – worldwide manufacturer of microfilm diazo and silver duplicators.
We also purchased Graphic Press – commercial designer and printer.
We began scanning operations with the use of production microfilm scanners.
John Negus retired.
We purchased The Green Sheet - A USA based microfilm magazine.
Purchase of Silver Lining – specialist manufacturer of microfilm chemicals.
Purchase of OITUK Ltd – developer of Document and Record management software.
Creation of the Large Format division – specialising in plotting and scanning equipment for engineering drawings.
We also introduced SMA scanners to the UK
We purchased the micrographic service division of Graphic Data UK Ltd and EDM to create our own Microfilm Equipment Service Division.
We purchased Eichner Mikrofilmhaus – worldwide distributor of microfilm consumables and owner of the Ozaphan microfilm product range.
The creation of our Imaging Technology division– specialising in book, film and document scanners and software.
We launch InoTec and Avision Document scanner ranges into UK.
Launch www.paperscanners.co.uk, The e-commerce site for document scanners.
We launched Hyperwave content and document management software to UK and relaunched the www.genusit.com website.
We were appointed sole European, African and Middle East Distributor for Fujifilm microfilm products.
A new Digitisation Studio was constructed and conference room facilities were updated at Nuneaton.
A 45Kwh Solar panel system was installed on Genus roof.
New Educational Open Days held in Nuneaton.
We launched Rowe large format scanners and Metis book scanners in the UK, and launched Live-Docs content and document management software to the UK.
Genus Implement new Enterprise Resource Planning system across all Companies within the J & J Negus Group
We also began making own Diazo.
Genus gained certification to ISO 27001 for Information Security Management.
The Goobi workflow management system is installed in the Genus Studios to manage scanning production workflows.
Genus becomes the UK distributor for Zeutschel equipment.
Chris Elwell and Simon Brown visit Sudan to deliver a large amount of digitisation equipment to their National Records Office.
Genus becomes the exclusive UK distributor of Recollect community engagement software.
Local MP, Marcus Jones visits Genus, to congratulate our very own Emily Negus on starting her business management apprenticeship degree program.
We undertook major refurbishment towards the Green Initiative with New windows, LED lights, Tree-V tree planting and new heat source pumps.
Construction and completion of our 4th digitisation studio.
Rachel Earp becomes our second member of staff to start an apprenticeship degree program specialising in Project Management.
We bought our own Arago 3D photogrammetry rig from Rigsters.
EPM depart the microfilm consumables business, leaving Fujifilm as the sole manufacturer of microfilm worldwide. Genus are the exclusive Fujifilm microfilm distributor for Europe, The Middle East and Africa with many distributors in South America, Australasia and Asia.
Genus celebrates our 50th anniversary, with 50 staff and 5000 customers over 60 different countries worldwide.
Our comprehensive services span the entire spectrum of preservation needs, from 2D and 3D digitisation and physical deep storage archiving to bespoke conservation consultancy and premium consumables. We also offer Heritage Photography, delivering high-quality imagery of valuable artefacts. This service captures culturally significant items with meticulous precision, allowing museums, archives, and collectors to preserve and present their collections in unmatched detail.
Whether cataloguing, storing, digitising, or photographing priceless collections, we embody da Vinci’s dedication to mastery, craftsmanship, and innovation. We empower our clients to honour the past while actively shaping the future of preservation.
Certification
ISO 9001:2015
ISO 27001:2022
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