Astera LED has energised its 10,000 sq metre in Shenzhen, China together with its knowledgeable and adaptable workforce to assist with the delivery of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) items, including face masks.
Astera LED CEO Norbert Ernst explained that the company was initially going to temporarily scale back operations in the factory, when he was approached by a contact asking if they would be willing to assist with the production / distribution of face masks. “Naturally I jumped at the chance,” stated Norbert. “It offered a path to keeping many staff employed full-time which is great, and also helps contribute positively to the ongoing global demand for face masks which are vital to help meet the unique challenges of containing COVID-19.”
Two types of mask are being safely and cleanly packed at the factory – the standard disposable face masks and KN95 respirator masks. They are first enclosed in sanitised plastic bags which are sealed, then packed into an inner carton, and finally into outer boxes which are secured and palletised, ready for shipping and transporting around the world.
During normal peak times, over 250 people working at the Astera factory across all departments. Currently, around 100 Astera LED staff – primarily from production, quality control and the warehouse – are dedicated to this project. Astera LED’s management team in Shenzhen are considering hiring another 100 temporary workers for the face mask project, depending on demand.
The current contract runs for three months, after which Astera has the option to continue or switch back fully to producing their award-winning range of wireless battery powered LED fixtures.
Astera LED’s factory and warehouse houses all production elements involved in the manufacturing process plus other departments including some sales, purchasing, and part of the Astera LED R&D team. The brand’s quality control, operations, production and engineering all feature a dynamic mix of local and European management, while the company’s administrative HQ, senior management and R&D are based in Munich, Germany along with sales and marketing.