A North East manufacturer is creating more than 40 jobs after opening a new factory in Gateshead to make protective equipment to protect key workers.
Dräger has opened a new facility at Follingsby Park where it will now make face masks as part of efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The company, which has a site at Blyth, Northumberland, began searching for a second North East base last year after the Government launched a call to action for manufacturers capable of making protective equipment.
The new site will employ more than 40 members of staff and will specialise in making high quality face masks, known as filtering face pieces (FFPs). Its products will include both masks with and without valves.
Ian Gil-Rodriguez, cross segment marketing manager at Dräger's medical and safety division, hosted the virtual opening event.
He said: "To open a factory at any time is special. To open a factory making PPE is amazing and to open a factory at the height of a pandemic is incredible."
Dräger already employs more than 400 people at its factory in Blyth. The base at Follingsby Park was selected due to its strong connection to local infrastructure and its close proximity to its existing site in the region.
The company made clear that the new facility would not be a short term project for the business but would form part of the its overall strategy.
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Rainer Klug, executive board member for Dräger's safety division, said: "We are opening today a manufacturing site for Tech for Life producing FFP here in Gateshead. What we open today is not an one hit wonder it will find its way into an integrated global manufacturing network at Draeger. This will be a strong pillar in our group strategy like our sites at Blyth and Plymouth."
He added: "We are very happy we can provide the new manufacturing site and good quality jobs in the North East of England."
The virtual of the site was attended by a number of local leaders, including Gateshead mayor Michael Hood, who officially opened the new factory through a ribbon cutting ceremony broadcast online.
Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy also gave a short speech on the opening, which was prerecorded for those attending the ceremony.
Mr Levy said: "The Dräger site in Gateshead is a site that I worked really hard on to back the tender bid.
"They are going to be producing the FFP three face masks - that is the special ones with the valves on them. They are going to be producing them in Gateshead. We were hoping that they would be made in Blyth but the facility was not suitable so that has gone to Gateshead. I wish them all the best with their ventures."