Structure-flex, thermoplastic manufacturing specialists, have renewed a three-year contract with the Oxfam Supply Centre to provide them with equipment to transport and store clean water in developing communities, especially during humanitarian emergencies.
Structure-flex produces a range of products manufactured from flexible plastic-coated fabric for use in transportation, packaging, and testing. Among these, they supply various styles of tank bags, including pillow tanks and open-top ‘onion’ tanks, which are used to store fresh drinking water in drought—or disaster-stricken areas, including Africa and Asia.
“We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with Oxfam to continue supporting their vital humanitarian efforts. Our water storage tanks play a crucial role in providing fresh water to deprived areas, and this extended contract reinforces our commitment to delivering reliable and innovative solutions for communities in need,” says Paul Reeve, Managing Director at Structure-flex.
Water storage pillow tanks for humanitarian aid typically range in capacity from 5,000 to 20,000 litres and require a dedicated goods vehicle to transport them.
While larger tanks are required to store fresh water for entire communities in easy-to-access areas, smaller tanks are ideal for reaching more remote and inaccessible regions.
While Structure-flex offers a broad range of capacities, including up to 30,000-litre ‘onion’ tanks, it also provides a much smaller 800-litre tank bag. It features a ‘bellyband’ harness with several attachment points for easy securing to a standard pick-up or flat-bed truck.
“Working with Oxfam’s field engineers, we developed these smaller water tanks using the latest thermoplastic textiles. Our innovation has ensured that water has reached even the most remote communities in need over recent years,” Paul adds.
Oxfam is a global charity that strives to overcome poverty and water shortages worldwide. It works to provide clean water and sanitation to prevent diseases, install irrigation systems to kickstart farming, and campaign for working toilet facilities in deprived areas.
Oxfam reports that 2.2 billion people lack access to clean water at home. The storage tanks provided by Structure-flex help the charity deliver safe water to these communities for drinking, farming, and other purposes.
Established in 1970, Structure-flex manufactures a diverse range of products from flexible thermoplastic technical textiles, which are bonded together using high-frequency welding.
Headquartered in North Norfolk, Structure-flex has the UK’s largest high-frequency welding and printing facilities for flexible thermoplastics.
In addition to manufacturing bulk packaging for water storage, the company is one of the largest lorry tension curtain providers in the UK. It works with many well-known brands and retailers.
