A Derbyshire charity providing clean water filtration systems saving lives in some of the world’s most disaster-hit places has officially cut the ribbon on a new assembly room which will double production from 3,000 to 6,000 water filters a year.
Outgoing High Sheriff Theresa Peltier did the honours at Wirksworth-based Aquabox, officially opening its ‘Aquaboost’.
The charity makes filtration systems that it then distributes to the world’s most troubled areas.
Originally established by Wirksworth Rotary Club in 1992, Aquabox has sent more than 125,000 aid boxes to more than 50 countries.
Now the charity has been kitted out with a brand new assembly room and has also transformed its processes through the Lean Sigma manufacturing programme, made famous by Toyota.
Theresa, who has now handed over her High Sheriff duties to Ian Morgan OBE, said she had been blown away by the new production facilities at Aquabox and it had been a privilege to officially open them.
She said, “This is an incredible charity right here in the heart of Derbyshire and I’m delighted to have been able to visit during my year of being High Sheriff. The work that these committed volunteers at Aquabox are doing every day is simply mind-blowing.
“I was so impressed by their Aquaboost project. I wish them all the very best.”
Over the years Aquabox has been sending filtration systems to over 50 countries.
Its Aqua-aid boxes contain a family water filter, plus 40 items like tools, lighting, survival aids, cooking equipment, educational aids and hygiene provisions.
Aquabox trustee Dominic Wish said, “We are excited by our Aquaboost project which is allowing us to scale up our life-saving work by a huge degree. We are almost entirely run by volunteers and myself and colleagues are delighted to be working on such a valuable charity.”
Fellow trustee Rob Barlow said, “Many thanks to Theresa Peltier for doing us the honour of opening our new Aquaboost assembly room. It was brilliant that she took time out to visit our charity and we are very proud to be able to show off our new system and production area. It will be making a very significant difference to people around the world who are going through appalling situations. It is saving lives.”
Aquabox would like to thank the following organisations for providing help with the Aquaboost project: Forged Solutions Ltd, of Darley Dale; Pratt and Whitney; ITP Aero of Hucknall; Compressors Ltd of Alfreton; Desoutter UK Ltd and Premier Precision Engineering of Chesterfield.
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