There hasn’t been a time during the COVID-19 pandemic so far that’s seen idle times for Vinyl Art. We were deemed as an essential service, allowing us to remain open and continue to produce flexible protective packaging for our customers. And, like so many during these times, we asked ourselves what we could do to help others.

 

The answer for us came because of what we’ve demonstrated to our customers for more than 40 years now. We’re willing to think outside the box. We’re known for helping companies push the bounds of creativity while still keeping a focus on quality and cost effectiveness.

 

We applied creative thinking and repurposing to finding a solution for what was becoming a worldwide concern. Our first responders and medical professionals simply didn’t have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to handle the demands brought about by the pandemic.

 

As a company, we had already been in discussion about making face shields. Moving from planning to production took a huge leap forward when we were able to obtain an FDA pre-approved face shield diagram because Tracy – a member of our team – heard about this resource on the radio as she was driving to pick up her son from college.

 

“We have to do this.”

It’s what I said to our team here at Vinyl Art. We had just finished watching on television as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was being interviewed by a CNN reporter. “It should be no secret to anyone that we have a real, real shortage,” he said. Governor DeWine was talking about PPE, singling out face shields as among the top 10 items needed. “We received our share from the national strategic stockpile,” he said, “but just like every other state, it was simply not enough.”

 

This report – and many like it – played on the screens at our offices. We knew we had to do something. We also knew it wasn’t just wishful thinking.

 

Face shields. It’s a product we were perfectly positioned to make. After all, we’d been in business for more than four decades specializing in the mass production of vinyl and plastic protective products. Our team got to work.

 

With more than 5,000 in-house dies at our disposal, we quickly were able to adapt what was needed to manufacture the pieces needed for face shields. And, because of our long-established relationships and U.S. supply chain, we were able to obtain a specialty PE product to configure what’s necessary to produce these important protective face shields for the medical community.

 

Doing what’s needed, safely

To date, we’ve produced more than 8,700 face shields. They’ve been shipped to organizations all across the upper Midwest. Our upgraded production facility has allowed us to manufacture this important PPE as we continue to manufacture flexible protective packaging products for customers.

 

During this time, we’ve never wavered from our first priority, which is to vigorously protect the safety of our people. While others were idled, furloughed, or even laid off, we’ve kept our people safe and busy.

 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that PPE such as face shields always be used in the suspected presence of COVID-19. The organization also warns that PPE shortages continue to pose a tremendous challenge to the U.S. healthcare system because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare facilities are having difficulty accessing the needed PPE and are having to identify alternate ways to provide patient care.

 

We’re hoping – along with the rest of the world – that the worst is behind us. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to produce face shields crucial to the health and safety of the professionals who are putting their lives on the line during this global pandemic. It’s the right thing to do.

 

We’re here to support you as we all move forward. How can we help you get back to business as usual?

 


We’d Love to Connect with You!

Contact the Vinyl Art Team at 800-569-1304 or sales@vinylart.wpengine.com