Vale factory available as hub for manufacture of safety gear for health workers

John Griffin, managing director of Interflex 2000 says his premises in Harby Road, Langar, plus its 45 staff and equipment could be rapidly refocused to help the medical battle to care for thousands of Covid-19 patients.

Mr Griffin’s offer comes as the UK finds itself in an ongoing struggle to get enough personal protective equipment to the healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic in hospitals, care homes and medical centres.

Interflex manufacturers parts for the automotive industry but its production staff have been furloughed as the company’s customers have halted production during the coronavirus health scare.

Mr Griffin said: “In the current situation, we are unable to manufacture for customers, but it seems a waste to have equipment and staff available at a time when the country urgently needs products that we could help supply.

“If nothing else, we have a large facility so can utilise space to help reconfigure packages or offer storage as required.”

“Normally, we make and supply a range of NVH and sealing solutions for vehicles including door seals, interior trim, under carpet and boot seals. We also coat and cut materials such as the fabric used for arm rests.

“It means we have equipment that could be useful in a range of contexts, from storage to manufacturing, such as making components for sound absorption in ventilator equipment.”

Available equipment also includes die cutting facilities to cut out components made from soft materials, as well as hot melt coating facilities and water based adhesive coating facilities.

It has kiss cutting equipment suitable for sealing or spacer materials useful for seals around medical visors.

While the £5 million turnover company is still working with customers and holding sales meetings online, as a non-essential business, production has been temporarily suspended while the UK is in lockdown.

Mr Griffin said: “Even during the current crisis, we have orders ready and waiting to be fulfilled once government advice directs that we are able to re-start production.

“In the meantime, if anyone feels we can help with the production of PPE or related equipment in anyway, please contact me via the Interflex website at www.interflex2000.co.uk or email [email protected].”