The demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical workers in contact with the COVID-19 pandemic recorded exponential growth recently. This acute shortage caused by rising demand continues to be felt both locally and globally.
Responding to the shortage, Partel has joined the efforts to protect the health of frontline workers and developed a high-performance protective material called Partel EXOPERM Gown, for single use hospital gowns, based on extrusion coated polypropylene non-woven fabric.
The material is now ready to be delivered to companies, who will make the protective apparel needed in hospitals, within Ireland, UK, and the U.S.
“The performance of material meets the stringent quality demands and to applicable safety standards to achieve comfort and full protection for healthcare professionals. It’s not only a new Partel product, it’s also our way to proactively support and help Ireland and the countries where we operate“, explains Hugh Whiriskey, General Director at Partel.
EXOPERM Gown has been certified and achieved the highest class according to the standard based on the DIN EN 14126: 2004 norm.
The material was certified to resist penetration by contaminated liquids under pressure and infective agents due to mechanical contact with substances containing contaminated liquids. It was also tested and certified for resistance to contaminated aerosols and solid particles.
For high contact activities and for the PPE manufacturing process the material needs to be highly tear-resistant. It also needs to be fluid resistant, static safety, and very comfortable to wear. The material also uses the latest in Monolithic Technology to provide maximum protection to the person who is wearing it.
“Comfort and stiffness may affect perspiration and movement. Partel EXOPERM Gown comes in a weight of 45 g/m2. Being a light material, it provides substantial flexibility and optimal breathable barrier, which makes it ideal for medical protective equipment, and difficult working conditions” says Hugh Whiriskey.
Currently, two Irish manufacturer companies received the protective material, they are in process to be designed, produced, and send to the HSE for approval.
The company plans to increase its supply chain for stock protective material that can be used to augment the production of medical equipment during the pandemic.
Partel is an Irish company with a reliable international presence in 4 regions, known for producing and supplying high-performance products for a broad range of applications within the green building sector.
