In a demonstration of support for local manufacturing, Woolworths have turned to a Northern Beaches company to produce hand sanitiser dispenser stations for their stores.
Sanitiser dispenser station
Local industrial design and engineering firm Black Lab Design, which is based at Frenchs Forest, responded to a call from Woolworths to help make stores COVIDsafe.
“We’re big supporters of local suppliers through our Australian First Sourcing Policy and Black Lab have been a great partner for us during the pandemic,” said Trent Mason, General Manager, Facilities Management at Woolworths.
“They have worked tirelessly to support us with our in-store response to COVID and being local has been a big advantage. They have helped us with checkout screens, hand sanitisers and door openers, all of which are an integral part of our efforts to keep our teams and customers safe,” he said.
CEO of Black Lab Design Daen Simmat said the company was excited to be involved with the project and encouraged other corporations to source local manufacturing.
“Black Lab Design is about more than a sheet metal fabrication workshop or industrial design and engineering house, it’s about building a culture and delivering value beyond just the finished product to our customers.
“It’s really exciting that our Australian manufacturing company can make products that interface with every Australian that will go into a Woolworths store in their life at some point.
“If the client’s that we work with are prepared to invest a little bit more time in design, then we can guarantee we beat China on price, delivery, time frame and quality.
“It’s been great to be a case study for how good Australian manufacturing really is,” said Mr Simmat.
Federal MP for Mackellar Jason Falinski visited the company after hearing about the local design and manufacturing win.
“I am very impressed with the team at Black Lab, including their leader Daen,” Mr Falinski said.
“Their innovative response to the COVID pandemic is inspiring. The hand sanitiser dispensers will be extremely valuable to Woolworths, but more importantly, they will keep shoppers a little bit safer from the virus.”
Mr Falinski said he was keen for Northern Beaches based engineering and manufacturing businesses to lead a resurgence in local design, engineering and manufacturing as Australia emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Black Lab’s success winning this work proves that our local companies can compete through innovation and design.”
Images: Northern Beaches Advocate, supplied.
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