Wearwell Invests £80,000 in New Machinery to Ramp Up NHS Production

British workwear manufacturer Wearwell has invested £80,000 in new machinery to ramp up production of surgical gowns for the NHS ahead of the critical winter period.

The sizeable investment comes after Wearwell was selected by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) to produce and supply surgical gowns to Birmingham-area hospitals in June.

It is currently manufacturing 10,000 gowns per week to be delivered to The Birmingham Hospitals Alliance (BHA), which looks after UHB, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Hospital. Collectively, BHA uses around 100,000 surgical gowns per week.

Wearwell’s investment has seen 10 new machines added to the Tamworth factory’s production line, including six ultrasonic sewing machines which are used to create smooth seams with no needle perforation. This technology means fabric joins can lay completely flat against the body and is up to four times stronger than a sewed seam.

Wearwell CEO Richard Wright said, “Wearwell continues to be very proud that, as a local manufacturer, we’re able to manufacturer vital supplies for our local NHS hospitals. The sizeable investment in new machinery underlines our commitment to supporting the NHS and doing all we can to ensure that hospitals in our region have the vital PPE they need as we approach the unknown this winter.”

The new additions give Wearwell additional capacity to triple its current output of surgical gowns. All ten new machines are already up and running in the Wearwell factory after being sourced from across the UK and Europe.

During the height of the pandemic, Wearwell also used its PPE expertise to manufacture and donate full sets of scrubs to the Marie Curie hospice in the West Midlands.

To find out more, visit: www.wearwell.co.uk