Texas Border Business
As originally published in Texas Border Business newsprint edition May 2020
Finding solutions to a challenging situation is part of the Texas identity. By pivoting their businesses and identifying innovative ways to continue operating during this crisis, businesses around the state were able to help meet their community’s needs and contribute valuable resources to our state. Check out just a few examples of these inspiring Texas businesses:
Insul-Fab in Coppell: This insulation company retooled a production line to make sanitary, medical-grade face shields. Insul-Fab is now able to help supply 10,000 face shields a day, seven days a week.
With the need for personal protective equipment at an all-time high to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19, Insul-Fab is manufacturing full-length single-use face shields in its Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX facility at a rate of 60,000 per week.
The lightweight device with an adjustable headband can be worn comfortably by anyone and is compatible with medical face masks or glasses. The Insul-Fab Face Shield has a unique design that covers the head more completely for improved protection, including the nose, mouth, eyes, and ears. The foam forehead pad is covered in a skin-friendly, absorbent nonwoven that allows the user longer-lasting comfort. 3M adhesives were used to ensure a quality bond between the materials.
Sweet Shop USA in Mount Pleasant: This chocolate factory pivoted to convert the plastics typically seen over specialty cardboard boxes into personal protective equipment (PPE), helping to create new jobs and provide critical supplies for the state.
With the slowdown of sales at retail stores because of the coronavirus pandemic, Sweet Shop USA wasn’t receiving as many orders and had to lay off about 10 of its 80 employees. The Mosses, members of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Longview, were praying about what to do to help when they heard President Donald Trump mention the Defense Production Act.
Dixie Flag & Banner in San Antonio: This Central Texas company has switched some of its production work from making flags to sewing surgical face masks, supplying valuable PPE to those combating COVID-19.
In response to the overwhelming need for medical supplies to fight COVID-19, the people of Dixie Flag Banner converted the San Antonio flag manufacturing operations to produce washable and reusable fabric masks for frontline medical workers, hospitals, first responders, essential workers, and the public.
Starlite in Denton: This signage company is now manufacturing intubation shields and medical mask clips for hospitals and healthcare facilities. Intubation shields offer another layer of protection for medical professionals.
Designed with safety in mind, the protective shields add another layer of protection for medical professionals by placing the shield over the patient’s facial region. Click here to view full product specs and order online.
Covercraft Industries in Wichita Falls: This manufacturer brought their Wichita Falls facility back online in order to make PPE for emergency workers. The facility is gearing up to produce 20,000 gowns and 20,000 masks weekly to meet the demand.
As a facility producing protective covers for vehicles, the plant was not considered an essential business under shelter-in-place guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Spruiell said.
But that has changed with the switch to in-demand medical products critical to the battle against the novel coronavirus.
The 40 workers helped with the process of modifications so the facility can make the gowns and masks, he said.
Prestige Ameritech in North Richland Hills: This North Texas company is partnering with the U.S. National Guard while ramping up production to produce 2 million face masks a week and help supply additional PPE to the state.
Governor Greg Abbott announced the military will help a Texas company make surgical masks for hospitals.
Governor Abbott announced Prestige AmeriTech and the military have joined forces to increase the production of personal protective equipment or PPEs.
Members of the National Guards’ 36th Infantry Division will help make more than two million masks a week.
Prestige Ameritech is the largest manufacturer of surgical masks in the country, and the company will be working 24/7 to get the masks to hospitals.
