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Detmold’s Brompton plant to supply 100 million medical masks

More than 100 million medical masks are set to roll off a production line at one Adelaide company while another local businessman reveals he’s sourced half a million of his own.

Detmold employee Joe Felice unpacking a new mask-making machine from China.
Detmold employee Joe Felice unpacking a new mask-making machine from China.

An Adelaide company can start making 145 million medical masks after taking delivery of new machines from China.

Detmold, which normally manufactures food packaging, will make the masks at its Brompton factory.

The machines, which arrived today, will help the company provide 100 million masks to the Federal Government and 45 million to the State Government.

“This is a win in every single way,” Premier Steven Marshall said.

Meanwhile, Adelaide businessman Yazan Akeel has also made available 500,000 KN95 masks.

He bought the masks from China after his medical friends complained about a shortage of them.

Yazan Akeel has sourced 500,000 face masks from overseas. will pass on to medical community at cost. Picture: Roy Van DerVegt
Yazan Akeel has sourced 500,000 face masks from overseas. will pass on to medical community at cost. Picture: Roy Van DerVegt

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He plans to sell them for $3-$4 a mask, the same cost he paid to bring them to Adelaide. He said he would be happy to show the invoices if anyone wanted to verify the numbers.

“I have nothing to hide,’’ he said. “I am not profiteering, put it that way.’’

Mr Akeel is managing director of Ecotel, an equipment supply company that sells into the hotel and restaurant industries.

“We were very concerned since we have heard stories of healthcare professionals having to reuse masks, recycle masks or even look for homemade masks.

“It’s insane to have a shortage in Australia.” Mr Akeel said he had contacted SA Health about the masks, but found the body’s procurement process was too “slow’’.

“If I was SA Health, I would say drop me your samples, let me verify them. If you meet the standards, come on board.’'

SA Health said it had “hundreds of thousands’’ of KN95 masks.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/coronavirus/detmolds-brompton-plant-to-supply-100-million-medical-masks/news-story/479bf3763c620bef9a03b11346cbc5b4