By 60 new jobs in Grimsby factory producing PPE for businesses and NHS
Hygiene Austria are to create at least 60 new jobs in their Grimsby factory, producing up to 10 million PPE face masks for UK businesses and the NHS.
The drive is due to begin at the Lenzing Fibres factory in Grimsby in early June.
It is expected that the operation will produce around 10 million masks per month.
Phil Munson, operations director at the site, said:
“They started asking around the group about whether there was any potential because this is not just about business, it is about being a responsible producer and supporting people in the current crisis.
“They asked if there was any interest elsewhere and I said a lot of things in the media in the UK were about the Government struggling to support and provide PPE for front-line workers.
“They used that to ask the question and have seen a large amount of interest from the UK Government and from the NHS.
“A decision has been taken to ship a machine straight over to Grimsby and we are going to use the current premises in Great Coates to put that in, start production and we are also looking to expand that and bring in another couple of machines in fairly quick succession.
“The first one is due to land in the UK this week and we should have it running for next week.
“We have started the recruitment process and initially, it is looking like around 35 jobs straight away but with the potential to scale that up.
“The PPE we produce initially will be full certification for the general scale for the public and use in supermarkets, shops and businesses and we then need to get full medical approval.”
Mr Munson added that he wanted to help provide businesses with the equipment they need and being Grimsby born and bred, he is especially keen to support local companies.
The announcement is the second jobs boost in quick succession for the Grimsby and wider northern Lincolnshire area after a £500 million green jet fuel refinery at Stallingborough approved by council planners last week.
It follows the news that if a buyer is not found for the Novartis factory in Grimsby, its closure could result in the loss of 400 jobs.
And, the shocking surge in national unemployment amid the coronavirus crisis, which saw around 2300 people in Grimsby apply for Universal Credit.
Those behind the venture say they hope that it will help to kick-start the local economy in North East Lincolnshire by providing the vital personal protective equipment needed to ensure workplaces can keep operating.
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