LED manufacturer Astera is converting its 10,000 square metre factory in Shenzhen, China to create and deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) items such as face masks.
Astera is scaling back its operations in the Schenzhen factory as the entertainment lighting industry has scaled back activities.
Norbert Ernst, CEO, Astera was approached to assist in the production and distribution of face masks. Ernst said: “Naturally I jumped at the chance. It offered a path to keeping many staff employed full-time which is great, and also helps contribute positively to the ongoing global demand for face masks which are vital to help meet the unique challenges of containing Covid-19.”
The factory is producing standard disposable face masks and KN95 respirator masks, enclosed in sanitised plastic bags which are sealed and packed into an inner carton and placed in secured outer boxes for shipping and transporting around the world.
More than 250 people are employed at the Astera factory during peak times, with 100 workers currently dedicated to the face mask project. Astera is also considering hiring another 100 temporary workers for the face mask production project based on demand.
The face mask contract is set to run for three months, with Astera having the option to continue production or switch production back fully to LED fixtures.
The current contract runs for 3 months, after which Astera has the option to continue or switch back fully to producing their award-winning range of wireless battery powered LED fixtures.