Manufacturers to fill the medical supply chain while keeping employees in jobs

The NSW Government is calling on manufacturers around the State to help fill gaps in the global supply of medical equipment and hygiene products, redeploying spare capacity to save lives and jobs. 

The NSW Government today launched a portal for companies to offer to build parts or supply eight urgently needed items during the COVID-19 crisis.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the world was running short on hand sanitiser, handwash soap, gloves, cleaning products, protective clothing, masks, eyewear and paper products.

“This is a call to arms for NSW manufacturers to look at ways to convert production lines into making the items we so desperately need,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We have the ability within NSW to meet our local demand and the Government is moving to help manufacturers re-tool quickly to achieve this.”

“Importantly, providing this opportunity to manufacturers will also allow some businesses to keep people in jobs when they may not have been able to do so.”

Local alcohol makers are already converting to produce items such as hand sanitiser, while other firms have switched to face masks, providing much-needed equipment while keeping their business going and safeguarding jobs.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Gabrielle Upton MP said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for local supply and manufacturing businesses to further contribute to the fight against COVID-19 and keep their businesses running. “

“We all want to help during this challenging time and this may encourage businesses to diversify their supply or develop these essential products for those on the front line”. 

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) announced on 1 April 2020 that its National Register portal launched to collate local expertise in the areas of medical supplies and other essential items, had received over 1,000 responses in under a week.

The AMGC, part of the Commonwealth’s Industry Growth Centre initiative, launched a national register to collate local expertise in the areas of medical supplies and other essential items.

Dr. Jens Goennemann, Managing Director of AMGC, said “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity, ideas and capabilities that have been put forward to assist with the response to COVID-19. From submissions to manufacture ventilators and PPE, to manufacturers offering up raw materials and supplies to other businesses, the overall response has been extraordinary.”

“As Australians, we rise to a challenge and are happy to do our bit, and the manufacturing sector is no different – we are in very capable hands and the work being done proves how essential manufacturing is in Australia,” said Dr. Goennemann.