Productive Plastics Inc. is making shields for personal protective equipment to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Officials with the Mount Laurel, N.J., thermoformer said in a news release that the PET shields are single use and are made to be worn by health care professionals or essential workers in retail, grocery, foodservice or anywhere personal interaction is necessary.
Productive has installed a new roller die for shield production, Chief Operating Officer Evan Gilham told Plastics News. The firm also has added 15 employees, bringing its total head count to almost 70.
Productive now is making more than 6,000 face shields per day, Gilham said. The firm developed a prototype shield in April and began production in May.
Officials said that initial production runs will be donated to local hospitals, first responders and other essential employees.
Productive's face shield has an innovative design that maximizes protection, freedom of head movement and comfort, officials said. They added that the firm's plastic and manufacturing expertise allowed Productive to make a high-quality face shield at a cost competitive with both foreign and domestic suppliers.
"We recognized that with our existing manufacturing expertise and resources we are in a unique position to serve our community in a time of need, especially the health care and essential professionals, by manufacturing these face shields," CEO Hal Gilham said.
"We are extremely proud not only to be part of the solution in the response to this pandemic, but to also be able to offer employment to some of the people in other industries that were displaced by the economic effects of these challenging times," he added.
The Productive face shield offers greater freedom of movement, officials said, with a contoured design that avoids impact with shoulders and chest. Its design also easily fits over other commonly used mouth and eye PPE, they added.
Evan Gilham said that Productive's unique design will allow the firm to continue making the shields even after initial pandemic demand.
Productive was founded in 1955. The firm makes thermoformed plastic components through pressure thermoforming and vacuum forming. Officials said that Productive is a leading contract manufacturer of heavy-gauge thermoformed parts for medical equipment, transportation, plastic enclosure and other markets.
The company was No. 95 on the most recent Plastics News ranking of North American thermoformers, with estimated sales of $12 million.