Packaging firm donates visors to carers as business moves to PPE production

Chester-le-Street-based PACCOR has provided care charity Supportive with 100 protective visors free of charge to trial with their staff and volunteers.

The visors were made and supplied within a couple of days after the two were introduced by Business Durham, the economic development arm of Durham County Council.

The organisation is linking up companies across the county to help them find solutions for the challenges of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

PACCOR, which specialises in sustainable plastic packaging solutions for the food industry, is also making full face visors at its plants in France and Poland.

Sales and Business Development Manager Jonathan Lundberg said: “This is challenging time for all businesses, but we wanted to support the international effort in tackling COVID-19. After hearing about the PPE shortage we knew we could help make vital equipment to help keep staff safe in the fight against coronavirus.

“We started manufacturing the visors two weeks ago and have already produced 60,000. If demand for PPE continues we hope to be able to scale up production and manufacture 20,000 visors a day.

“As part of this we want to be able to support local care homes, care providers and hospitals and have made a couple of charitable donations.”

Supportive chief executive John Davison said: “Like many organisations across County Durham and the UK we are feeling the impact of COVID-19. However, we are determined to continue providing our quality care and patient transport service thanks to the dedication and hard work of our staff and volunteers.

“Their safety is our top priority and we have been working tirelessly to source PPE from various organisations. We were delighted to be introduced to PACCOR through Business Durham as to find a local business who can supply protective visors, which give our staff added protection has been fantastic. It is incredibly generous of PACCOR to offer us the visors free of charge and to turn them around so quickly has been a massive help, we cannot thank them enough.”

Advice for businesses and employees in County Durham can be found at www.durham.gov.uk and at www.businessdurham.co.uk/covid19.

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