SA packaging company to make 145 million masks

South Australian packaging company Detmold Group will employ up to 160 extra staff to produce millions of respirator and surgical masks for the South Australian and federal governments, to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Both governments reached an agreement with Detmold to produce 145 million masks from its Brompton manufacturing plant in Adelaide; 45 million for SA Health and 100 million for the federal government’s National Medical stockpile.

“Detmold is a South Australian company with a long history of employing locals, so to be able to assist with both flattening the curve in this time of crisis and helping keep South Australians in work is immensely rewarding. We expect to have the capacity to manufacture over 20 million masks per month by June and the facility will produce both surgical masks and respirator masks,” said Alf Ianniello, Chief Executive Officer at Detmold.

The agreement is part of the state government’s plan for securing South Australian jobs and protecting healthcare workers and the community against the spread of COVID-19. The project was initiated by SA Health.

“This partnership will help deliver an uninterrupted supply of respirator and surgical masks to protect our doctors and nurses working on the frontline. South Australia has taken decisive action from the beginning of this crisis, and the delivery of critical medical supplies and vital new jobs is another important step in protecting the state. This is a great example of a South Australian business working hand in glove with government to find practical ways to tackle this pandemic head on,” said Premier Steven Marshall.

Work has commenced on the manufacturing facility, with specialised machinery to be installed soon and production due to begin in May.

“This is a fantastic example of how our strong manufacturing base in Australia puts us in a position to be able to make more of the medical supplies we need during the outbreak of this virus. We have a sufficient supply of masks at the moment but this work will ensure we sustain that supply over the months ahead. From securing further masks already in the market, to ramping up manufacturing at home, we’re attacking this challenge from all angles,” said Karen Andrews, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.

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