Packaging manufacturer produces disposable face shield
Innovative ideas often arise in extraordinary times. At its sites in Winterthur and Singen, the packaging manufacturer PAWI produces packaging primarily for the food industry and is therefore considered systemically important. However, disposable face masks are now also being produced for the first time.
Like other companies, the PAWI Group set up a so-called pandemic team right at the beginning of the Covid 19 crisis, adopted rules of conduct to protect employees, customers and business partners, and implemented measures to safeguard production. At the same time, reports were heard from all over the world that there was a shortage of equipment for protective clothing, mouth and face protection. Out of desperation and for lack of an adequate solution, doctors were already making their own face shields. This gave the packaging manufacturer's innovation team the idea of developing, manufacturing and distributing a face mask themselves. Resourceful minds immediately got to work on this topic, since the technical prerequisites for their manufacture are available within the PAWI Group.
Supplement to a conventional mouthguard
The disposable face mask consists of cardboard and a viewing window made of PET window film and can therefore be disposed of in the simplest way after use via normal waste separation, just like a normal folding box. Thanks to the universal plug-in closure on the headgear, the mask can be closed to fit everyone, depending on the head circumference. The face mask does not protect against infection, but it is the ideal complement to a conventional mouthguard and additionally protects users from direct contact with so-called droplets when other people in the immediate vicinity sneeze or cough. Hospitals in the region have shown great interest in the disposable face shield. However, PAWI sees the use of the face shield not only in hospitals, but also in retirement and nursing homes, in retail or supermarkets, in fact anywhere where people come into contact and need additional protection. This can also be in private environments.
Disposable face shield not suitable for medical use
The disposable face shield, as manufactured by PAWI, is not CE approved and thus not officially approved for medical care facilities and hospitals. However, in crisis situations such as the current pandemic, such face protection is certainly a welcome means of providing additional protection to particularly exposed individuals. Production of the disposable face masks has started and they will be available shortly.
Source: PAWI Packaging Ltd.
