Their extensive engineering plastic capability and the UK’s largest network of dedicated plastic CNC machining centres enabled Röchling to rapidly respond and offer support for key lifesaving technologies.

From its UK headquarters in Quedgeley, Gloucester, Röchling are machining over 13,500 critical components in medical grade plastics in support of the consortium of companies in the UK Governments Ventilator Challenge, most recently they have taken on manufacture of 13 different parts in their thousands for a new rapid diagnostic testing device for COVID-19.

The Röchling Fibracon facility in High Peak, Derbyshire has produced over 28,000 items in the last weeks to meet their customers threefold increase in production of ventilators for supply around the globe and in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Röchling Insoll, specialist in micro-machining plastics has seen a significant increase in demand for thermoplastic seals and fittings used in all types of fluid and gas supply systems in the healthcare sector.

All Röchling UK sites have remained open throughout the crisis and have adapted safe working practices to ensure the rapid response on these projects whilst maintaining uninterrupted supply to their existing customers. All sites continue to work on a daily basis with new crucial projects to combat the pandemic.

In addition to the medical device projects Röchling’s existing customers in the bioscience industry are increasing demand for parts as they and their customers urgently put resource and capacity into developing a vaccine to combat Covid-19.

UK Managing Director, Mike Knowles commented, “I’m proud of the way all the UK Röchling sites have responded in meeting the challenges of these urgent requirements at a time of national emergency, it couldn’t be achieved without the cooperation, determination and dedication of all our staff to adjust to the changes in working practices and their commitment to ensure we play our part in the supply of life supporting equipment”.