Local firm at cutting edge with reusable gowns

SOLVING A DEVELOPING PROBLEM… Gouge Linen and Garment Service director, Rob Priestly demonstrates the new reusable personal protection gowns. Photo: Steve Hutcheson

The availability of personal protection equipment (PPE) was shaping up to be a highly controversial issue at the start of the year as the pandemic took hold. In dealing with the demand, a number of companies around the district have adapted their current production facilities to come up with innovative new solutions.

Single use PPE now might become a thing of the past with reusable fabric gowns that can be washed up to 70 times now being manufactured by local Mooroopna linen supply company, Gouge Linen and Garment Service.

The material being used in the PPE is a liquid repellent barrier material which has been tested to resist fluid penetration.

Sewn into the garment will be an identification chip that as it goes through a cycle, enables the number of cycles to be recorded.

“The chip is similar to that now being used on pets,” said Gouge director, Rob Priestly. “Each time the gown goes through a wash cycle, we record it. They are examined at the folding stage and removed after a certain number of cycles.

“Not only are reusable gowns environmentally friendly, they don’t rely on long supply chains which take time to react to unexpected demand,” said Mr Priestly.

In maintaining their durability, during the wash cycle they are treated with a specialist chemical that recoats them and rejuvenates the barrier effect.

The gowns have received approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

The gowns are now being distributed to Victorian health facilities for use by medical staff.