With nursing homes and hospitals facing shortages of personal protection equipment and supplies like hand sanitizer, manufacturers have shifted gears to meet demand.
Early in the pandemic, Medline redeployed its Wisconsin plant to produce sanitizer. After modifying equipment and ventilation systems, the company expected to push out an estimated 150,000 bottles weekly by mid-April.
The converted facility had focused on infection prevention products, including a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution for ReadyPrep cloths, antiseptics and over-the-counter drugs.
Meanwhile, 3M doubled its global output of N95 respirators to over 1.1 billion annually, or nearly 100 million per month. In April, the company reached a deal with the Trump administration to import more than 165 million of the masks it produces in China to the U.S through June.
“This pandemic is affecting us all, and we are doing all we can to support public health and especially our first-responders and those impacted by this global health crisis,” Chairman and CEO Mike Roman said.
3M also continues to distribute respirators to other nations where it is a prime supplier, and is also producing more sanitizers, disinfectants and filtration solutions.
Meanwhile, ResMed, owner of MatrixCare, planned to double its ventilator production, temporarily reducing its work on sleep apnea equipment.
“We are working with governments, health authorities, hospitals, physicians and patients worldwide to assess their needs, and to deliver the ventilation therapy that is essential to treat the respiratory complications of COVID-19,” said Chief Executive Officer Michael “Mick” Farrell.
ResMed and Medline both said their efforts were limited by supply chain availability.
They aren’t the only companies going to battle against COVID-19. Perfume-makers, distilleries and even snowboard makers were getting into the sanitizer and mask market and connecting with local facilities in need.
