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Sylatech pivots to ‘KeepSafe’ during Covid-19
With the world in the midst of a global pandemic, Sylatech, an engineering business in North Yorkshire with significant exposure to the aerospace sector, has successfully implemented a pivot of its business by launching a new product outside its traditional casting, RF/microwave and machining offering.
Whilst witnessing dwindling orders in the foundry side of its business and having to put a number of staff on furlough, the management team have implemented an alternate strategy and designed a new product of particular relevance to the coronavirus.
Sylatech has known for many years, that copper and copper-based alloys, have antimicrobial properties and it is therefore highly effective in killing a broad range of bacteria and fungi, and viruses. By utilising their manufacturing expertise, a team of engineers at Sylatech stepped away from their usual projects to develop a new product called the KeepSafe.
Sylatech has launched the KeepSafe handheld device that enables users to avoid touching handles, buttons or grabbing items unnecessarily / Picture: Polly Baldwin
The KeepSafe is a simple personal handheld device, which enables users to avoid touching handles, buttons or grabbing items unnecessarily. Whether you are in a hospital, shop, or even using a cash machine, the KeepSafe can be used as a simple hooking, pushing or finger mechanism.
The challenge facing care workers in the NHS inspired the team at Sylatech to get involved and it is their ambition to donate 20,000 KeepSafe’s to the NHS and key workers in its home county of North Yorkshire.
Charlie Breese, Sylatech’s managing director, said: “Sylatech’s aim for the KeepSafe is simple, to help limit the spread of Covid-19 and to reduce your potential exposure to Coronavirus. It has good application use with door handles, light switches, toilet levers, taps and more.
“The KeepSafe is not a substitute for regular and thorough hand washing, but an extra weapon in the fight against this invisible enemy.”
Sylatech’s business pivot won support from the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub. Andrew Raby, the Growth Hub Manager, added: “We’re keen to support this project because the product helps to protect frontline staff against the Coronavirus threat, as well as potentially securing manufacturing jobs and enabling good growth for the business.”
The KeepSafe – a new product from aerospace engineering firm Sylatech to help limit the spread of Covid-19 / Picture: Sylatech/KeepSafe
Sylatech has already received strong orders both domestically and internationally from businesses that are actively working on plans for keeping their staff safe upon returning to work. Company branded KeepSafes are proving to be particularly popular with business customers in the USA.
For more information, visit www.thekeepsafe.co.uk