Official DPRTE 2021 event sponsor, Dräger, is accelerating in the race to provide PPE for frontline workers in the UK, with the opening of a multi-million pound facility in Gateshead.
The factory has opened in response to the UK Government’s call to tackle the unprecedented demand for PPE with the manufacturing facility developed to produce high grade filtering face piece (FFP) masks.
Dräger’s reputation has been built on 131 years of protecting lives. In addition to FFP masks, the company has a wide range of medical and safety equipment to protect, support and help save lives whilst securing the welfare of professionals on a daily basis. Dräger’s products range from hospital ventilators and breathing apparatus, right through to gas detectors; working in a variety of sectors from medical, to defence, oil and gas industry, chemical industry, mining and firefighting.
The new factory allows for mass production of PPE within the UK with deliveries already made to NHS hospitals around the country.
Dräger already has a presence in the North East, with a manufacturing facility in Blyth, Northumberland, and this new facility in Gateshead expands the company’s ongoing commitment to the North East of England.
With the site opened virtually to comply with lockdown regulations, Malcolm Irving, Head of Global Supply Chain Safety Division at Dräger, said of the new site: “We’re very proud to officially open this new manufacturing facility in Gateshead. The production lines are now operational and the first orders have been delivered to NHS hospitals.
“The new site has established a sustainable UK-production base to manufacture high volumes and to provide a long-term solution for the supply of high protection FFP masks for our NHS workforce and other front-line workers.”
Dräger worked closely with local representatives, including, the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC), to secure the order and with Gateshead Council to acquire the new site.
Health Minister Jo Churchill said, “I am delighted that Dräger’s new PPE facility is opening in Gateshead. The factory will create new jobs in the area, making and delivering millions of FFP3 facemasks to our frontline health and social care workers.
“We have been working tirelessly to deliver PPE throughout the pandemic, with around 32 billion items ordered and over 7.3 billion items delivered to the frontline.
“This represents another significant milestone in establishing a UK PPE manufacturing industry to help us continue this vital work and build a more resilient supply chain in the future.”
Dräger is an official sponsor of DPRTE 2021
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Post written by: Matt Brown
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