Several medical customers have asked us to start urgent work on new medical devices, which our commercial, tooling design and projects teams have accommodated. We are also an active part of discussion groups with other businesses as to how we can use our skills, expertise and equipment to further support the response to Coronavirus. Active discussions are ongoing with the NHS supply chain and medical companies as to how we can support the manufacture of tooling and moulding for PPE for the NHS, with our first tooling projects due to start next week.
We are also continuing to support several other customers in other sectors to meet demand for their essential products, to help keep different parts of the country working or moving.
Week 13 Operational Status – FULLY OPERATIONAL
Operationally our teams at both of our sites have done a great job of continuing to support our customers across all sectors without interruption, supported by those colleagues working from home. We currently have a number of colleagues absent due to isolation.
Week 14 Planned Operational Status
Omega Plastics, Team Valley – FULLY OPERATIONAL
Omega Plastics will continue to support medical and other customers involved in the supply of essential product. We have taken the decision to temporarily scale back some operations at Omega with effect from today to reflect the reduced customer demand for automotive or other non-essential tooling or products.
Omega Tooling will move to 7 days a week, to accommodate additional social distancing measures. Omega Moulding will remain 24/5, with reduced numbers on each shift and additional social distancing measures in place.
Signal Plastics, Washington – OPERATIONS TO BE SUSPENDED BY FRIDAY 3 APRIL.
We have taken the decision to temporarily suspend all automotive operations at Signal Plastics with effect from 11pm on Friday 27 March. Signal will remain open until 11pm on Friday 3rd April to focus on a non-automotive essential product where we provide a full moulding and assembly service. Additional social distancing measures will be implemented to ensure that colleagues can continue to work safely.
The suspension of production at Signal is initially planned for a minimum of 3 weeks to coincide with most automotive customer’s shutdowns. We will continue to review the situation and talk to our customers and will look to resume operations as soon as it is reasonable to do so.
Our Executive team are reviewing the position daily and we remain in discussion with our customers and suppliers as to how the current position is impacting them. We will continue to progress discussions with existing and new customers in the medical sector as to how we can play our part in the fight against COVID-19.
If you have any additional queries, please do not hesitate to contact your OPG representative. Our contact details are on our website, which you can find by clicking here.
I would like to thank all colleagues at our group. Their dedication to continue to support our customers in the last couple of weeks has been unmatched.
We also send our best wishes to all customers, suppliers and business partners and their families and friends – please stay safe and well.
Craig Swinhoe
Group Managing Director
