Current situation
On March 11th 2020 Coronavirus ( Covid-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). There is currently no vaccine or cure for Covid-19
According to the WHO the fight against the coronavirus epidemic is being hampered by serious global shortages of face masks and protective suits. In addition to the demand dealing with the coronavirus, there is now a significant shortage of PPE and masks for all applications. Demand is outstripping supply and product price has increased dramatically.
China is the world’s largest producer of masks with a reported daily capacity of 20 million pieces, but estimates of domestic demand alone is around 50 to 60 million
per day and hence has implemented strict exportation licences for these products.
Following the outbreak in China countries such as Japan and South Korea, which have had a policy of mask wearing, have had a much lesser impact on public health.
This information is widely available.
It is now law to wear a face mask in public settings in the UK. In a nutshell people are scared and medical and FFP2 masks are selling out as soon as becoming available.
Shipping costs are escalating across the globe, adding cost to imported masks. Customs confiscation of un-licenced export and sub-standard manufacture has increased
Costs of basic medical masks have risen an average of five fold in the last 8 weeks alone
United Kingdom left the European Union (EU) at midnight on 31 January 2020. A transition period is now in place until 31 December 2020 although there are
expectations this may be extended.
Going forward
Whilst there is currently no vaccine or cure for Covid-19 the demand for masks in public has outstripped supply and with the increased costs from overseas manufacturers the domestic production of masks is called for. Things will not just go back to normal.
Healthcare, social care, industry and the public all represent demand for face masks. To be able to manufacture and distribute within the UK offers not just increased capacity and product but significantly reduces shipping costs.
UK public demand could be estimated at well over 3 million per day in the UK (based on Chinese residential demand of 50 to 60 million per day where mask wearing is common).
The UK Health and Care sectors are now reported to be actively looking to procure from UK manufacturers and collaborate with domestic companies to fast track production specifications to allow more effective procurement and work towards a more circular economy.
The UK government have now made the wearing of face masks a legal requirement, this along with more and more public welcoming mask wearing in public demand will most certainly be high and domestic production will be the most cost and time effective way to procure masks.
There is a 2 fold impact due to both lack of supplies and a national mood for ‘Buy British’. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the UK’s reliance on overseas manufacturers and as the UK becomes independent from the EU this is spurring a national mood and policies to increase manufacturing and support UK manufacturers.
Meet the demand – Solution & oppurtunity
Diecut Global is the supplier of high speed mask production lines. We have multiple lines currently available and can also produce bespoke build to customer requirements. Below are the 2 machines we currently have on short lead-time for delivery into the UK
N95 (United States NIOSH-42CFR84)
– FFP2 (Europe EN 149-2001)production line.
– KN95 (China GB2626-2006)
– P2 (Australia/New Zealand AS/NZA 1716:2012)
– Korea 1st class (Korea KMOEL – 2017-64)
– DS (Japan JMHLW-Notification 214, 2018)
DCG Automatic Ear loop Medical Face Mask Machine Single Channel.