Largs company, Saturn Sails is on track to produce 5,000 face visors to a range of front-line workers.
The company design and manufacture sails and covers for the marine sector but since the covid-19 pandemic everything ground to a halt and they had to furlough their staff.
With a range of machinery, materials and skills, Saturn Sails considered how they could help in the struggle to support our front-line workers. They decided to use the infrastructure of its sail loft, together with a volunteer workforce to make face visors and donate them to a range of key workers.
Councillor Alex Gallagher, Cabinet Member of Economy, North Ayrshire Council, said: “Saturn Sails is a great example of some of the fantastic, inspirational work being done by our local companies to provide protective equipment to key workers during this pandemic.
“Companies like Saturn Sails are trying to diversify at this difficult time and it’s great to see their skills and materials are helping others.”
Greg Pitt, Director of Saturn Sails, said: “As enquiries for the visors grew through our Facebook page, a funding page was set up to purchase more materials, raising a total of £6000 including a generous donation from local charity Gillian’s Saltire Appeal.
“We’re on track to produce 5.000 face visors, donating and distributing directly to care homes, community nurse teams, hospitals wards, medical and veterinary practices, and healthcare charities throughout Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Renfrew and Greater Glasgow.
“A special mention must go to everyone that has supported this endeavour through donations, and in-particular the support from the local Largs community has been overwhelming. The staff putting these visors together are themselves on furlough leave and volunteering their time. None of this could have been done without them.”