A South Wales firm that makes paper straws for the likes of Starbucks and McDonald’s has diversified to produce millions of protective face shields to support the fight against Covid-19.
Transcend Packaging, which was set up two years ago, has converted operations at its Ystrad Mynach factory to create protective face shields, made from reinforced paper boards and recyclable materials.
They will be used worldwide by frontline health and social care staff, as well to support employees returning to the workplace.
The company which employs just under 200 people, is currently producing hundreds of thousands of the face shields a week, but has the capacity to boost this to nearly two million if required.
While the firm is continuing to manufacture products for the restaurant industry during the crisis, orders within the sector have reduced.
Supplementing this activity with the creation of the face shields has ensured that Transcend has been able to retain most of its permanent staff on a full-time basis during the pandemic.
With support from Life Sciences Hub Wales, Transcend has been able to ensure their products meet all standards required for use by NHS Wales, frontline and key workers.
Nearly three million of the shields have already been manufactured, with the company having received orders globally. As well as supplying the products to various settings across the 海角视频, Transcend has seen its shields distributed across Europe and is now in talks to supply Japan and the US.
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So far, over 1.5 million face shields have entered directly into either NHS Wales or the 海角视频 Department of Health and Social Care agencies to support staff on the frontline. The firm is also suppling shields to councils, care homes, retailers and factories across the country.
Lorenzo Angelucci, managing director at Transcend Packaging said: “Transcend is a proud part of the Welsh business community and when the Covid-19 outbreak began we saw the critical need for personal protective equipment and wanted to do what we could to help.
“We quickly realised that we could adapt our digital printing equipment to create face shields and with the help and guidance of Life Sciences Hub Wales, we were able perfect the design and produce products that were fully certified and met the right standards.
“When it came to designing the shields, we thought carefully about the needs of today and those of the foreseeable future. Frontline services are of course a priority right now, but in the months to come, once restrictions are lifted and businesses resume their operations, other people will require protection. We wanted to create a product that could be used across the population.
“Our face shields are an effective, inexpensive CE marked alternative to other personal protective equipment items and provide an extra level of protection that is suitable for medical settings, employees returning to work and the general public as they go about their daily lives and see loved ones.”
Life Sciences Hub Wales, which has been appointed by Welsh Government to manage all initial enquiries and offers of support from businesses on behalf of NHS Wales, worked closely with Transcend to help it adapt its production line and become certified to supply PPE.
Cari-Anne Quinn, chief executive of Life Sciences Hub Wales said: “Transcend’s quick thinking and innovative approach to developing PPE for the national effort is an example of the fantastic commitment, creativity and hard work that we have here in Wales. As the main point of contact for industry, we have been working with businesses to support NHS Wales in sourcing the vital equipment and resources it needs.
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“Our work with NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership has enabled us to secure safe and certified products that will play a vital role in protecting patients and those working on the frontline of our health and social care sectors.”
Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters said: “Transcend Packaging is an important business in Caerphilly county borough and I applaud the way it has changed its way of working to develop a vital product, which is helping to protect many people.
“The company is part of an impressive number of businesses who are standing up and making the equipment we need to help beat coronavirus, and I also thank them for all they are doing in rising to the challenge posed by this pandemic.
“I’d also like to thank Life Sciences Hub Wales for the crucial role they are playing in supporting firms across Wales."