Bertelsmann Marketing Services | Gütersloh, 04/17/2020

Sonopress And Topac Start Production Of Protective Masks

Sonopress and Topac have jointly developed a reusable protective mask. Up to 50,000 items per week are to be produced at the Gütersloh headquarters from now on. The first masks are to be shipped starting April 24. Sonopress’s Asia team based in Hong Kong supported the development of the mask.

“Protective masks made in Gütersloh” will soon be offered by the two Bertelsmann Printing Group companies Sonopress and Topac. The replication specialists at Sonopress and the packaging experts at Topac combined their expertise to develop a proprietary protective face mask. The result of the collaboration is a reusable protective mask comprising a clear polyester visor, a spacer, and an adjustable strap that can be used to fix the mask to the head. The three-part product made of high-quality plastic materials can be assembled in less than two minutes and covers the face including the eyes, nose, and mouth when in use. The transparent visor ensures the wearer can see clearly through it and the design is very comfortable to wear, as it makes it very easy to breathe behind the protective screen. Up to 50,000 masks are to be produced per week at the headquarters of the two Bertelsmann Printing Group companies in Gütersloh.

“The face mask is a genuine joint product, for which our design, engineering, and production experts in Gütersloh worked together closely and creatively,” explains Sonopress Managing Director Sven Deutschmann. Sonopress’s Asia team based in Hong Kong provided further support in the development of the protective mask. Deutschmann is particularly proud of the fact that the masks are not only very functional but also reusable. “The material surfaces can be easily cleaned with a disinfectant and thus allow multiple use over several days or even weeks,” says the manager highlighting the aspect of sustainability.

The Sonopress and Topac teams are currently working flat out to set up the first production line and expect to be able to deliver the first masks to medical institutions or other people in great need of protection in Germany and Europe from April 24. Initially, the company is aiming for a daily capacity of up to 10,000 masks. This could be increased to up to 100,000 units per day in due course, depending on demand. Sonopress is also planning to start manufacturing the familiar “surgical masks.” The clean room capacities required for such production are already available at the Gütersloh headquarters. The facilities are expected to be ready for producing the masks by the end of the second quarter of 2020.