Flow Intl. repurposes operations to produce high-grade PPE

Kent, Wash.-based Flow Intl. Corp., a manufacturer of ultrahigh-pressure waterjet cutting systems, has delivered 200,000 medical-grade face shields to the state of Washington to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“Since the day Gov. Inslee called upon the private sector to help supply PPE, we immediately repurposed our operations to be part of the solution during this extraordinarily difficult time,” said Brian Sherick, Flow’s global vice president of sales.

The company began providing face shields to dozens of medical facilities, small businesses, and first responders in early April, while Washington’s Department of Enterprise Services was rapidly ramping up and evaluating potential providers. Flow reached out early, and followed up quickly with samples, time-tables, and different delivery scenarios.

The face shields are constructed primarily of high-grade polyethylene terephthalate modified with glycol (PETG), a material commonly used in the manufacture of FDA-approved face shields, along with hypoallergenic foam padding that rests against the user’s forehead and an elastic band. They are made for multiple use and cleaning.