Arbroath-based chemical firm Stakam adds staff to help new hand sanitiser activity

Arbroath-based craft chemical and polymer production company Stakam has converted a third of its production capacity to produce hand sanitiser gel in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Stakam team at Elliot Industrial Estate, Arbroath. Picture: contributed.

It has also boosted headcount to support the new activity, and said it is the only chemical company in Scotland producing the thickening agent added to hand sanitiser to improve its texture and ease of use. It also makes other raw materials required to produce sanitiser.

A tenth of all profits from sales of the sanitiser will be donated to the local foodbank, run by the Broughty Ferry Baptist Church

Founder and MD Alistair Watson. Picture: contributed.

Stakam began producing its sanitiser, known as Sanitiser 2015, in March as the crisis unfolded. The company has already supplied more than three tonnes of the product in May and has the capacity to increase output to 340 tonnes a month to help companies across Scotland and the UK get back to work safely.

Founder and MD Alistair Watson said: “I feel very proud that our team has managed to embrace change and been able to offer something worthwhile at this point in time.

“By switching our production, we are not only providing an essential product to businesses and organisations across Scotland, but as a result have not been required to furlough staff members and have actually increased headcount by a third to support our new activity.”

Stakam was established in 2016 as a craft chemical and polymer company. It recently expanded its operation to the Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath, following two major contract wins valued at £1.5 million.

The company manufactures and supplies products into the oil and gas sector as well as polymers for the construction industry, and more recently potassium acetate and potassium formate production.

SCOTSMAN.COM

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