How Michigan Manufacturers are Contributing to COVID-19 Response Efforts

As the speed of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to ramp up, production of essential health and safety items and personal protective equipment (PPE) used to assist in mitigation efforts is largely falling short of demand. To contribute to these efforts and ensure healthcare workers, patients and individuals are getting the resources they need, manufacturers around the state have either increased production or retooled entirely to provide medical devices that are desperately needed. Below are just a few examples of how Michigan manufacturers have stepped up to support response efforts in recent weeks.

• Orbitform (Jackson, MI) is producing portable, on-site mask-sanitizers to disinfect disposable face masks and combat the shortage among healthcare professionals.

• Ford’s Troy Design and Manufacturing Co. (Plymouth, MI) realized supplies were getting short on March 19 and immediately shifted to begin manufacturing medical devices. Over the course of 13 days, the plant was able to manufacture one million face shields and continues to produce 200,000 each day.
• Petoskey Plastics pivoted to design, re-tool and begin producing isolation gowns for healthcare providers in just five days. They continue to produce approximately 10,000 gowns each day, working to prevent any future shortages in local hospitals.
• Technique Inc. (Jackson, MI) switched their focus from metal stampings and welding to developing a prototype for a protective face shield with help from Henry Ford Allegiance Health. They plan to produce 2,000 to 5,000 each day and the shields can be sanitized for reuse.
• TentCraft (Traverse City, MI) used drive-up testing centers in South Korea as an inspiration to develop a more streamlined, organized process to facilitate drive-up testing inside their tents. They also began producing the relevant equipment needed inside, like cots and partitions. 
• After new temporary rules were granted allowing licensed distilleries to produce ethanol-based hand sanitizers, a number of Michigan breweries and distilleries, including Detroit City Distillery, Griffin Claw Brewing Company, Valentine Distilling Co., New Holland Brewing Co., and Ugly Dog Distillery, have started making hand sanitizer.
• With support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, National Filters (Harbor Beach, MI) retooled and purchased new machinery to begin manufacturing face masks and respirators.
• Food manufacturer Michigan Sugar bought $131,000 worth of local restaurant gift cards in its communities of operation, including Bay City, Caro, Croswell and Sebewaing. This totaled more than 2,600 gift cards from 50 different restaurants. In addition, Michigan Sugar donated hundreds of much needed PPE to area health organizations.
• GM has made available their blueprints for face masks, complete with step-by-step plans, to 600 auto part suppliers and urged them to assist with production efforts.

To view and connect with more manufacturers contributing to COVID-19 efforts, click here. If your company is currently producing PPE and would like to be included on The Center’s Capabilities Message Board, email us.

Since 1991, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center has assisted Michigan’s small and medium-sized businesses to successfully compete and grow. Through personalized services designed to meet the needs of clients, we develop more effective business leaders, drive product and process innovation, promote company-wide operational excellence and foster creative strategies for business growth and greater profitability. Find us at www.the-center.org.