Inktech Innovation is producing free hand sanitiser for key workers

Inktech Innovation has produced hand sanitiser for key workers and businesses

A Rochdale-based company which produces printing ink for food packaging is producing free hand sanitiser for key workers.

Inktech Innovation has set aside hundreds of litres of ethanol – used in its manufacturing – to produce hand sanitiser for key workers and businesses.

The formulation is in accordance with one recently published by the World Health Organization. It is a thin solution (like water) that can be rubbed onto hands or put into an appropriate bottle and sprayed onto surfaces as a disinfectant.

Since production started earlier this month, around 300 litres of the product have been claimed by around 40 customers, including hospices and local GP practices, and care homes and warehouses.

The initiative is being co-ordinated by sales director Phil Hodges and quality manager Derek Whitworth, started after providing Inktech’s customers and staff with small bottles of sanitiser.

Phil said: “Ethanol is one of the key components which goes into sanitiser and it’s very hard to get hold of at the moment. We managed to secure enough to continue our core businesses, and convey a quantity of sanitiser to key workers.

“It was important for Inktech to give the sanitiser away, and not make a profit from it. It’s been great to turn what we do into an action which helps the local community in the Rochdale borough area.”

Local key businesses are offered five litres of sanitiser for free, equivalent to 100 “pocket size” gel bottles or 10 of your typical home use pump action dispensers.

This will be on a first come first served basis and will be collection only from their Rochdale site.

After the initial free five litres, businesses are welcome to contact Inktech for a price.

All enquiries about the sanitiser should be sent to: sanitiser@inktechinnovation.co.uk