CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak was in the North-East this morning and visited a Hartlepool-based electronics firm manufacturing a ground-breaking Covid-19 testing machine

TT Electronics and the Virolens device, designed by UK start up i-Abra, have been backed by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen who has provided £980,000 in funding, enabling the company to invest nearly £4 million to manufacture the new testing device at their facility on Brenda Road.

TT is currently upgrading the Hartlepool manufacturing facility by expanding the site and adding state of the art assembly lines.

The investment will create over 100 permanent jobs, doubling the workforce to over 200 staff.

Virolens is a breakthrough technology in virus detection combining holographic microscopy and Artificial Intelligence software to analyse the resultant images.

The device delivers a yes/no Covid result in around 20 seconds.

Trials have shown that the system has the required efficacy to be given the go-ahead by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The next step will be to secure the necessary requirements specifically designed for new Covid-19 testing equipment, before widespread deployment in the UK as well as in other countries, where the technology is already available.

Mayor Houchen said: “Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have been at the forefront of the battle against this virus.

“Our research organisations like CPI in Redcar have helped global pharmaceutical companies develop and improve their vaccine manufacturing processes and Fujifilm Diosynth will soon be manufacturing 60m doses of the Novavax vaccine at their world-class manufacturing facility in Billingham.

"Now TT Electronics are leading the way by helping to design and manufacture the ground-breaking rapid testing equipment that has the accuracy of lab tests."

Charlie Peppiatt, Executive Vice President at TT Electronics, said: “Virolens has the potential to be a major step forward in dealing with the impact of the pandemic, by allowing safer access to places of work, transport and events.

"We were delighted to welcome the Chancellor and Mayor Houchen on site.

"It gave us the opportunity to discuss ways to work with Government to unlock the potential of this technology for the benefit of us all across the UK.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “I was delighted to visit TT Electronics to see the excellent work they are doing, particularly on the Covid-19 testing device, Virolens.

“They have been backed with investment by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen as another example of the support he has given businesses across the area.

“He has consistently provided vital support to businesses like TT Electronics during the past 12-months with a range of funds designed to not just help firms get through this pandemic, but look ahead to the future and how they can build back better.

“His hard work and championing of the region are also a large part of the reason the Government has decided the area needs a Freeport here and the 18,000 jobs it will bring as well as the new Treasury campus coming to Darlington.”

“It is why people should vote for him on May 6, so he can continue to his hard work to improve the Tees Valley.”