A South Wales firm that usually makes paper straws for clients such as McDonald's has shifted production to make a million face shields a week to support the NHS in the fight against Covid-19.
Transcend Packaging, based in Ystrad Myanch, Caerphilly, has its face shield approved for coronavirus protection. As well as for the NHS in Wales, the face shields will also be used in factories and other workplaces.
Around a million face shields will be made initially, but the firm can increase production to make almost two million a week to meet future demand.
It comes after First Minister Mark Drakeford made an appeal to businesses in Wales to manufacture vital personal protective equipment.
Lorenzo Angelucci, chief executive of Transcend Packaging, said: "We’ve been aware of the national difficulties in sourcing PPE – as a packaging manufacturer we challenged ourselves to see what we could do to help.
“We’re delighted to have designed, produced and received our CE-marked, regulatory approval for a face shield that can be produced quickly, inexpensively and in large quantities.
“These face shields will help provide Covid-19 protection across Wales and beyond, protecting our brave NHS staff, care home workers, retail and restaurant staff and other frontline workers.
“Our goal is to get as many shields in the hands of key workers as possible and we should be able to produce between one and two million face shields a week as long as the need persists.”
Mr Drakeford said: "Transcend Packaging is a great example of what a business can do to adapt the way it works to support our response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I want to thank the company for everything it’s doing and rising to the challenge.
“Transcend join a growing number of individuals and firms standing up and making the equipment we need to support our fantastic health and care workers. We appreciate each and every offer of support."
