Philpott Solutions Group, a Brunswick, Ohio-based maker of custom rubber and plastic components for industrial applications and designs, recently released a proprietary face shield designed with the ability to swap out broken pieces to use each shield longer.
Philpott touted the made-in-U.S. products, saying that the personal protective equipment can get to North American users faster than overseas manufacturers.
"The world conditions due to COVID is what got Philpott looking at PPE as a potential product line, not only from the increased usage, but also because of where the supply chain for this product was predominantly produced," Philpott President David Ferrell said.
The face shield took about 12-14 months to develop, and comprises a headband with a silicone pad for the forehead area, an adjustable rubber strap and a plastic visor or face cover.
"We feel ours is different because it is a modular design where the end user can actually buy the three pieces individually once they have a Philpott-made face shield. You don't have to throw away and replace the entire unit," Ferrell said.
"When we look at a product, we always try to determine how can it be better," he said. "Why throw away an entire face shield because one aspect of the face shield needs replaced?"
Ferrell added the company was finding that for standard face shields, the shield itself was leading to the entire unit being thrown away. The ability to swap out pieces is a more economical and sustainable model than other units.
"Most users will get rid of the full unit when the shield itself is dirty or scratched. Our design would allow you to only replace the shield at a fraction of the cost of the total unit," he said.
The face shield kit can be used by first responders, medical personnel, municipalities, educational institutions and retail operations.
"The product is made with all FDA-approved products due to the sensitive nature of the medical field, but because of that it does lend itself to be used in other industries," Ferrell said.
The kits are U.S.-manufactured and can be shipped in any quantity and stored until needed. Face shield kit samples are available upon request, by calling 888-267-2206 or visiting philpottsolutions.com.