Clear way forward for manufacturer

A PLASTICS company in Wendouree has found itself on the frontline in the battle against the spread of COVID-19.

From a small Wendouree factory, owner Justin Kent and the two employees at Ballarat Engineering Plastics have been working overtime to fill orders for equipment like sneeze guards and protective screens.

The devices will be rolled out at critical retail and healthcare providers across the region including UFS and Ballarat Health Service.

“The increase in orders has been 300 to 400 per cent more,” Mr Kent said. “Just by the volume of these sneeze guards and screens.”

For nearly 20 years Ballarat Engineering Plastics has taken large sheets of polyethylene, nylon, acrylic, Perspex and polycarbonate and crafted them into products.

Normally they make machine guards, display cases or windows, and they have always had the capacity to make sneeze guards, however demand for the latter device is now surging.

“We’ve manly done food and beverage and manufacturing, but certainly health when the need calls for it, and the need is now,” Mr Kent said.

While the factory hasn’t had to retool yet, that’s something that could happen in the future.

His team are currently working with Ballarat Health Service on producing personal protective equipment as well as other initiatives in the region aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 or helping in the treatment of people affected by the disease.

“We’ve been working with BHS on a couple of full-face shield prototypes,” Mr Kent said. “There may be scope for them depending on how the rollout and demand from overseas goes.

“We’re also working with Gekko Systems and Sandy Gray on a breathing apparatus that he’s designing and that’s quite exciting.”

Like almost every industry, Mr Kent is seeing supply chain issues around getting some of the raw materials used in the production process, yet he also sees a silver lining for local manufacturing out of the current COVID-19 challenge.

“Through necessity the promising thing is looks like Australia, and Ballarat’s very good at this, but we’re going to have to go back to making stuff ourselves,” he said.

“Through not being able to get anything in and demand, we’re going to be forced to make stuff again in Australia. That’s exciting in itself and an opportunity for employment.”

When it comes to the work the team at Ballarat Engineering Plastics are currently undertaking, Mr Kent said it was unexpected but rewarding.

“I wouldn’t have though it six months ago,” he said.

“Most of the time our products are for manufacturing or food and beverage and you’re helping farmers grow food, or helping Mars or McCain, but to be assisting directly with helping people stay safe and hopefully, to draw a longbow, saving lives, it’s certainly a good feeling.”