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Logan-based Evolve Group has been granted $1.2 million in financial assistance by the Queensland Government to begin producing disposable N95 surgical masks in high volume.
Described by Evolve as "the most important move they've made" the company will soon begin producing 60,000 surgical masks per day at the manufacturing plant.
N95 masks are the highest quality surgical masks available for frontline healthcare workers and can help to filter out fine particles.
The pivot to manufacturing masks is not a drastic leap for the company which has produced a large variety of products for a wide range of sectors since its founding in 2006.
Evolve Group owns brands like plastic manufacturing business Marco Engineering, pool and spa equipment company Poolrite, and 4x4 recovery device TRED.
According to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk local production of goods like face mask is imperative both now and into the future.
"We can and we must make these lifesaving products in Queensland," says Palaszczuk.
"We are prepared to back our manufacturers with long term offtake agreements to ensure they keep manufacturing them here."
The Government's partnership with Evolve is not just a short term solution either; Queensland Health and the Department of Housing and Public Works have both agreed to purchase masks from Evolve Group for a three-year period to support the health system.
Logan's Evolve Group is no one-trick-pony, and prides itself on flexibility and responsiveness according to managing director Ty Hermans.
"We have always prided ourselves on our ability to design award-winning products and rapidly solve complex engineering challenges, but this is certainly our most important project - something we have been training for since we started our reshoring mission back in 2006," says Hermans.
"We are proud of our ability to apply our Queensland-based advanced plastics manufacturing facility and skills to a mission-critical project like this, supporting our frontline medical teams and others that are sacrificing so much right now.
"Securing supply of critical products like this by reshoring the manufacturing in Australia has to be a priority for all Australians now and into the future. Being Australian-made also ensures the production of high-quality products."
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