North west firms are switching manufacturing to make hand sanitiser as part of a national effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The 海角视频鈥檚 largest independent paint manufacturer, HMG Paints, is utilising its manufacturing knowledge and existing alcohol stocks to produce much needed hand sanitiser.
The Manchester company developed the First Thing Sanitiser after staff and their families reported being unable to find stocks at other locations.
The First Thing name derives from internal communication messages urging staff to make washing their hands the first thing on their mind whether in work or at home.
The company is now working with partners to supply the hand sanitiser to those who need it the most during the spread of Covid-19, which has led to a severe shortage.
Managing director John Falder said he is keen to help organisations working with vulnerable people get the supplies they they need.
鈥淥ur team of chemists have worked extremely hard on the formulation and it has been a true team effort to make the hand sanitiser available,鈥 he said.
鈥淏y utilising our existing alcohol stocks, we believe that we can help the HMG Family, our customers and those who need it the most during the current shortages. 鈥
The first batch of First Thing Sanitiser saw donations made to Greater Manchester Police along with local care homes and frontline workers.
The current situation in the 海角视频 has seen a number of HMG鈥檚 customers assist with government and NHS infrastructure support initiatives utilising their skills and expertise to help during the current outbreak.
Elsewhere, Tappers Gin, an independent family-run distillery in Wirral, has also joined the growing number of companies that are producing hand sanitiser.
They hope to make 'a small but vital contribution' to tackle the ongoing shortage across the 海角视频.
鈥淲e work with ethanol (alcohol) on a daily basis to produce our gin and it鈥檚 a key component in the World Health Organisation鈥檚 recommended formula for hand sanitiser鈥, explained founder & managing director, Dr Steve Tapril.
鈥淧roduction-wise, it isn鈥檛 such a leap from making gin but we鈥檝e had to acquire new licenses and obtain approval to go ahead. We want to do our part where we can,鈥 he said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that hand sanitiser has an alcohol content of 80% (v/v) - something only achievable for those who are already working with the purest, industrial-strength alcohol such as a gin distillery like Tappers.
But it isn鈥檛 for drinking, Dr Tapril explained: 鈥淚t鈥檚 for external use only, of course. While ethanol is the main component, we鈥檝e also added hydrogen peroxide and glycerol 鈥 the glycerol helps to soften and reduce the loss of moisture from your hands.鈥
Tappers has also pledged to set aside a portion of all proceeds so they can produce, and then donate, sanitiser to front line workers, and others most in need, during the crisis.
The distillery is based less than a mile from Wirral鈥檚 Arrowe Park Hospital.
鈥淲e thought about fundraising at first but realised we could make a more practical contribution by donating sanitiser,鈥 said Dr Tapril.
鈥淩ather than crowdfunding or asking for help up front to fund production, we took the plunge since the need is there right now.
"We鈥檙e instead using proceeds from sales to those who are less in need, to cover our costs and produce sanitiser that we can then donate to those who are most in need.鈥
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Other companies have pledged to use their factories to make hand sanitiser.
Ineos, the chemicals company controlled by the billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is planning to build two hand sanitiser factories and talks are under way with the NHS on supplying the products to hospitals for free.
Independent brewer BrewDog made its first deliveries of free hand sanitiser from its distillery in Aberdeenshire to the NHS鈥檚 Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, while France鈥檚 LVMH, owner of brands such as Louis Vuitton, Mo毛t & Chandon and Hennessy, has also pledged to switch over its perfume factories.
