Filmquest Group Inc., a Bolingbrook, Ill.-based converter that specializes in polyester film, has opened its first clean room environment.
President and CEO John Felinski said the company invested about $20,000 in the project. Filmquest will use the space for medical applications, including face shields, and also to enhance and differentiate the company from its competition.
Felinski said the company has seen a dramatic increase in demand from customers to provide an uncontaminated environment for food and medical applications.
"As we became inundated with COVID requests for material to create masks and face shields, we quickly recognized that a clean room environment would be needed for many pandemic suppliers for the foreseeable future," he said.
"To better accommodate these requests, we were able to fast-track the project, and buyers have been anxious to take advantage of our new feature."
The custom-built clean room was designed specifically to control air flow, temperature, and pressure, offering protection from contaminants such as dust and airborne particles.
Filmquest makes Questar-brand polyester films. The company has about 50 employees and has one metalizer, one coater and eight slitters.
Plastics News estimates the company's sales at between $30 million and $40 million annually.