In response to the coronavirus outbreak, a specialist plastics engineering business in Gloucester are using their expertise to support the medical and healthcare sectors across the country.

Röchling Engineering Plastics UK, part of the Röchling Group, are using their extensive engineering plastic capability and the UK's largest network of dedicated plastic CNC machining centres to rapidly respond and offer support for key lifesaving technologies.

From its UK headquarters at Waterwells Business Park in Quedgeley, the business is machining over 13,500 critical components in medical grade plastics in support of the consortium of companies in the UK Governments Ventilator Challenge.

Most recently they have taken on manufacture of 13 different parts in their thousands for a new rapid diagnostic testing device for the virus.

The Röchling Fibracon facility in High Peak, Derbyshire is producing over 28,000 items over the next few weeks to meet their customers threefold increase in production of ventilators for supply around the globe.

And in Hitchin, Hertfordshire Röchling Insoll, specialist in micro-machining plastics are seeing a significant increase in demand for thermoplastic seals and fittings used in all types of fluid and gas supply systems in the healthcare sector.

Röchling has said that all of its UK sites have remained open throughout the crisis, with their 185-strong workforce adapting to safe working practices and ensuring the rapid response on these projects whilst maintaining uninterrupted supply to their existing customers.

The business said that in addition to the medical device projects, their existing customers in the bioscience industry are increasing demand for parts as they and their customers urgently put resource and capacity into developing a vaccine to combat the coronavirus.

UK managing director, Mike Knowles said: "I'm proud of the way all the UK Röchling sites have responded in meeting the challenges of these urgent requirements at a time of national emergency.

"It couldn't be achieved without the cooperation, determination and dedication of all our staff to adjust to the changes in working practices and their commitment to ensure we play our part in the supply of life supporting equipment".