Alpha Solway launches new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dumfries
Published: 10 May 2022
Leading Scottish PPE firm Alpha Solway has begun the production of the virus filtering material for FFP2 and IIR facemasks in its newly built factory in Dumfries.
The manufacturer launched the new £12m factory in just 10 months after SOSE awarded a multi-million-pound public-private investment partnership.
The production of this critical filter layer ensures reliable, resilient delivery of PPE from Globus Group’s multiple sites across Britain and Europe.
This latest endeavour is a part of the business’s long-term sustainability strategy to reach Net Zero by 2027.
As a result, the business - one of the largest private sector employers in the South of Scotland - has created over 300 new positions at Gilnockie Business Park, Dumfries.
Alpha Solway’s new factory was visited in April 2022 by Ivan McKee, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, as part of a tour of a series of companies in Dumfries and Galloway.
Creation of jobs in the South
The new factory follows a total £33m investment into the region - with new manufacturing facilities producing world-class, resilient PPE since the start of the pandemic, resulting in over 1,000 new roles in communities across the UK in the last two years.
The company started work on the ground-breaking factory last summer, cementing the long-term future of manufacturing in the region and supporting the local community.
Net Zero focus
As part of this, the company will ensure all its European-made products launched after 2024 are Net Zero and will develop and implement a robust product life cycle management process with more than half of its customers.
With over 25 years’ heritage, the innovative technology business is producing one billion medical masks and 300 million FFP respirators per annum, and recently launched its innovative new transparent face mask.
Approved by the DHSC, the cutting-edge product will help aid communication between frontline healthcare workers and their patients.
Business Minister Ivan McKee
"It was great to visit Alpha Solway’s new manufacturing facility, their expansion has created over 300 new jobs, underlining the importance of the manufacturing of vital personal protective equipment to our economic recovery.
“The £4.8 million South of Scotland Enterprise investment demonstrates a commitment to secure the long-term future of manufacturing in Scotland whilst showing how public and private sectors can collaborate to address challenges caused by the pandemic.
“I also welcome Alpha Solway’s sustainability strategy to reach net-zero by 2027, which will help contribute towards a green, sustainable and prosperous Scotland.”
Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of SOSE
“We are delighted that Alpha Solway have been able to launch their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dumfries.
“The £4.8million support package SOSE provided the business last year demonstrates our commitment to secure the long-term future of manufacturing in the South of Scotland.
“It is great to see that our funding has been so effective in helping the organisation grow the number of employment opportunities available in the region significantly.
“The organisation’s commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2027 could also be hugely influential to other organisations and employers in the South, who we hope will feel inspired to make similar environmental pledges in the next few years.”
Alpha Solway Director Steven Binnie
"Our customers continue to need a fast, resilient supply of PPE and launching this new facility was a key part of the next stage of our strategy to accelerate the access to vital product.
“We’re committed to continuing to support the healthcare sector as well as helping our economies recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic.
“We’re focussed on constantly improving and evolving our manufacturing processes by launching pioneering products and services and the opening of this new factory is a key step in enabling our ongoing sustainable strategy.”