Velocity Composites plc is supplying 2,500 urgently needed fluid protection gowns to the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust on Monday, to help protect workers in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.

The company has already delivered 8,000 protective face shields for the ambulance service this week, after converting certain areas of its manufacturing facilities in Burnley to produce the much-needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the health service.

The single use, heavy duty, long sleeved gowns are made from LDPE (low density polyethylene), which contains no latex. Velocity is able to produce up to 1000 protective gowns and 5000 face shields per day, using its high speed material cutting machines normally reserved for creating bespoke composite kits used to manufacture parts for commercial aircraft.

Darren Ingram, Chief Operating Officer at Velocity Composites, said:

“The team at Velocity is committed to doing what we can to protect our NHS staff. Our equipment and clean room manufacturing facilities are perfect for producing medical use PPE and we will continue to produce face shield and aprons for as long as they are needed. We have capacity to produce more and I urge any healthcare authorities in short supply to get in touch. We will do what we can to support them and the national effort.”