As the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) continues to hold Ohio and our nation in its’ grip, businesses along with healthcare providers across our state have sought personal protective equipment or PPE. At the same time, Ohio small businesses have stepped up to see how they could retool or repurpose to contribute to the cause. We are highlighting a few NFIB members here in our state who have joined the cause to help keep us safe. We hope you are staying safe as well as you serve your customers. For more information visit Responsible RestartOhio.
Sole Choice, Inc. in Portsmouth Ohio is supplying elastic and non-elastic cords for face masks, face shields, scrubs, and any other various PPE items required to help in the fight against COVID-19. The company was manufacturing 17,000 elastic shoelaces per day for New Balance, but those are now being used to make N95 masks. They were featured on our member conference call with Congressman Bill Johnson. You can learn more about their efforts here.
Teron Lighting, Inc. owner David Bellos serves on the Ohio Leadership Council for NFIB in Ohio. The company, located in Fairfield, Ohio, makes custom lighting fixtures for a variety of businesses, but during the coronavirus pandemic, they have focused efforts on making lighting for hospitals.
Hospital lighting produced by Teron Lighting in Fairfield, Ohio, photo supplied by owner David Bellos.
A new member of NFIB in 2019, Smith CNC-USA Solar has shifted from manufacturing industrial solar panels to PPE equipment such as masks, protective suits, goggles, hand sanitizer, and face shields.
BRP Manufacturing Company, in Lima, Ohio, is using its equipment, normally used to make rubber products, to make 1,000 face shields for the Lima Memorial Health System: “The call was made to local companies to help with the significant need for personal protective equipment, and several have responded.” They were featured on Hometown Stations.
Pulsar Paper, in Cleveland, Ohio, has teamed up with KMK Promotional Sales to import and sell roughly 2.5 million masks every week to customers including the Mayo Clinic, the United States Navy, and Walmart. They are also donating masks to institutions that need them. As written in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Cooper Enterprises, Inc. offers custom cut-to-size cashier guards to customer specifications as well as producing disposable, plastic face shields for medical professionals and other essential employees. The cashier guards have been sold to auto dealers, grocery stores, and banks. They are also manufacturing cabinets for hospitals.
Certified Professional Restoration in North Canton, Ohio is pivoting from cleaning water damage to cleaning areas that may be contaminated by the coronavirus to help local business reopen or stay open. As reported in The Canton Repository.
World Class Plastics, Inc. in Russells Point, Ohio moved its production to produce PPE, and now produces the “hey don’t touch your face” face shield. The story is told in The Urban Daily Citizen.
Air Solution Company in West Chester, Ohio, pivoted sideways to produce and donate face masks until the supply line caught-up.
KAM Manufacturer, Inc. saw the demand and urgent need for personal protective equipment (PPE) soaring with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and was able to adapt to allow for the manufacturing of PPE products at its Van Wert, Ohio facility. They were featured on Hometown Stations and The Van Wert Times Bulletin for their efforts.
In Ohio Amish country several businesses chipped in making PPE for Cleveland Clinic & University Hospitals. Keim Lumber Company in Charm, Ohio and Superb Industries, Inc. in Sugarcreek, Ohio knew the Amish do not take unemployment and looked for ways to help in the cause. The story was told on Spectrum News.
Rapid Prototype & Manufacturing LLC in Avon Lake, Ohio went from making equipment for aerospace and defense companies to making PPE for dentists and hair salon owners. The owner of Dental Dynamics Staffing in Parma Heights, Ohio, says she sold about 1000 face shields so far and she’s not the only one helping dentists get PPE. Find the story on Cleveland 19 News.
If your business is on the other end of the spectrum and needs PPE: The Ohio Manufacturing Alliance to Fight COVID-19 has launched the Ohio Emergency PPE Makers’ Exchange, an online marketplace where organizations that need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and related equipment can find a wide selection offered by Ohio manufacturers. This online marketplace offers PPE and related equipment for health care workers, first responders, and essential businesses. It’s especially well-suited for organizations that may have lower-volume needs, such as small businesses. A member of NFIB since 1998, Goss Supply in Zanesville, Ohio also has PPE in stock.
Let us know if your business is producing PPE! We want to hear about what our members are doing to help the cause.
For more information on reopening Ohio economic sectors and requirements visit NFIB’s Responsible RestartOhio Plan Page.
