Gilmore had been suffering from prostate cancer and died on Sunday 13 February.

His funeral took place in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, on 18 February, while a memorial service will be held this Friday at noon at the Loscoe Baptist Church, High Street, Loscoe, Derbyshire.

Gilmore was from Belfast, where he initially trained as a civil engineer. 

He started Autobond in 1978 in the Heanor, Derbyshire factory that it still operates today. The company began by making hand-fed, water-based laminators - the first machine built is still in use. 

John Gilmore, George Gilmore's son, who now runs Autobond, said: "He remained interested in every part of the business right to his last day and, although the cancer had slowed him down, he was still encouraging everyone.

"He was well known and highly respected throughout the world in the field of laminating and will be greatly missed."