Kickstart: A presidential visit, discarded swabs

From nearly the start of the COVID-19 shutdown, we've been hearing and reporting news about the high demand for testing and the equipment needed in testing. For the plastics industry, that has meant a push for the long, flexible injection molded shafts that are used for test swabs.

Teel Plastics Inc. and a group including Protolabs, Innovative Product Brands and even research teams at Harvard University have been involved in programs to increase production of the shafts.

So it makes sense that national attention would go to Puritan Medical Products, the sole producer of testing swabs in the United States. On June 5, President Donald Trump headed to Puritan in Guilford, Maine, to tour its swab production.

But while the workers wore full protective gear needed in clean room production settings, keeping everything covered from head to toe, the visitors did not. Trump also did not wear a mask during the tour. Photos show others in the party wearing masks, but no other clean room coverings.

After the visit, USA Today reported, all production from the visit had to be thrown out.

"The running of the factory machines is very limited today and will only occur when the president is touring the facility floor," Virginia Templet, the company's marketing manager, told USA Today in response to questions about the event. "Swabs produced during that time will be discarded."

For those of you who normally work in an office, a couple of questions: Have you returned? Do you have a schedule for a return to the office?

I know that decision-makers within Crain Communications are balancing how and when to reopen offices for the folks at Plastics News and our sister publications while still keeping things safe.

We, of course, are not alone. Last week, Ford Motor Co. told the bulk of its office workers to plan on continuing to work from home until at least September — two months later than its previous target.

"This timing allows us to continue prioritizing safety actions such as sufficient PPE for all of our place-dependent workforce who have already returned, as well as the proper supply for those who would be returning later this summer, while also continuing the modifications to all of our facilities to ensure the proper social distancing protocols are in place," Ford said.

Fiat Chrysler says it has already started returning some workers to their offices, while General Motors hasn't set a specific date.

It's time to celebrate the women out there who make your company great.

Nominations are now open for our annual Women Breaking the Mold special report, honoring women who are making an impact on the industry.

That doesn't mean we're just looking for people already in leadership roles. We all know women who are just entering the industry who bring with them energy and devotion that inspire others around them to do more and to do better.

This is a chance to show the wide range of people making up the plastics industry. Read here for information on how nominate a woman to become part of the class of 2020.