A FAMILY-run Ballarat business has been a success story during the COVID-19 crisis, altering its operations into personal protective equipment for the region's health providers and scientific researchers.
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General Plastic Ballarat, in Delacombe, traditionally specialises a wide range of products including perspex sheets, polycarbonate sheets, PVC sheeting, polystyrene foam, display products and many other different plastics in various sizes and colours, for engineering and other applications.
But since the start of the pandemic, has changed its operations creating plastic masks and screens which are being used by health services in right across the region including hospitals in Ballarat, Maryborough and Ararat.
Manager Dale Alexander said the family-run business had produced more than 2000 PPE for local organisations and providers since the start of the pandemic and anticipates more and more will be needed over the coming months and years.
"With the screens, we're anticipating to be going like this for at least another 12 to 18 months," Mr Alexander said.
"We've had some great conversations with people who say they've been hoping to get this type of equipment for the past 20 years.
The business is totally family run with Mr Alexander saying his daughter had recently come in to lend a hand with manufacturing during the busy time.
Mr Alexander said much of the the work the company was currently undertaking was being made for Westlab based at Mitchell Park which distributes scientific protective equipment across the country.
Westlab is a manufacturer and importer of laboratory equipment and consumables dedicated to the science and laboratory industry.
It works alongside the science and laboratory industry through distributing a range of high quality laboratory products, which products coming from within Ballarat.
For more, go to generalplastic.com.au
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