The company has pivoted into the PPE market following a Coronavirus-related slowdown
Eco Textieldruk from Groningen saw its turnover plummet due to the Coronavirus outbreak, and was forced to invest in new machines- utilising a subsidy from the Province of Groningen as it did so. Now it is one of the fastest manufacturers of medical face-masks in the world.
Last week, the Groningen Deputy IJzebrand Rijzebol (CDA) officially put the newest machine into service. The machine has a starting capacity of 30,000 medical-standard masks per day, reports the province of Groningen, via the Groninger Ondernemers Courant.
From 1 October 60 masks per minute will fly off the machine. The machine itself is unique in the Netherlands, and can even be upscaled to make 40,000 masks per day- which allows the company to contribute to the high demand for protective equipment in the Netherlands.
Hospitals in the Netherlands are now dependent on deliveries from abroad for these types of masks and are afraid that a shortage will arise in the future. As several countries have found out to their cost, masks produced in other countries may differ in quality from national standards.
Image via: Provincie Groningen, Marijke Koetsier, Studio Smik
