PPE start-up calls for government help for British companies

A PPE start-up from Essex, PopOn Masks, has called on the government to help British industry operating in the sector.

The company manufactures disposable facemasks that meet British standards EN 14683:2019 for disposal face masks and are MDHA registered. One issue has been the importation of what has turned into expensive PPE that fails to meet any useable standard in the UK. Imports from China and Turkey have been variable in quality, often being returned as unusable.

Jamie Majid, managing director and founder of PopOn Masks said: "UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, has publicly expressed a desire to support UK manufacturing and with Brexit looming, its time the government stepped up and began to show that deeds are better than words. We need this government to start investing in British companies supplying PPE. At PopOn Masks, we can manufacture 5,000,000 high quality disposable masks a month and get them delivered anywhere in the UK very quickly.

“We want the government and other key organisations needing high-quality disposable face masks to know that there is a quick, efficient and cost-effective British solution that means we are not reliant on waiting for imports of variable quality. We have sent samples to the Government and other bodies, including the office of the Mayor of London, and we are waiting to hear back from them. It is imperative that the Government works with and supports British companies, especially at this time when Coronavirus has already impacted so many British jobs."

PopOn Masks believes it can increase capacity from 5,000,000 face masks a month to meet demand, as its line has been designed as a modular line, meaning that it can add extra lines quite easily based on demand.