Packaging firm donates visors to carers

A plastic packaging firm, based on the Drum Industrial Estate, Chester-le-Street, is producing equipment to protect social care workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

PACCOR has provided care charity Supportive with 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, which is linking up companies 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.”