November 19, 2020 – Owens & Minor (Richmond, VA) announced that, as the U.S. prepares to enter flu season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is continuing to increase production and invest in its capacity to provide frontline workers with procedure masks and N95 respirators.
The company’s HALYARD-branded Surgical N95 Respirators are made to protect frontline workers from airborne illnesses, which is why the form, fit and comfort are of utmost importance, Owens & Minor says.
Since February, Owens & Minor has acted across four key categories and is poised to help support the nation’s critical facial protection needs:
- Surgical N95 Respirators: Over 1000% increase in N95 production at three Americas locations, including additional manufacturing assets in Del Rio, Texas and Lexington, N.C.
- Surgical and Procedure Masks: Nearly 100% increase in surgical and procedure mask production through new capital investment and improving efficiency of operations in Acuña, Mexico
- Face Shields: Over 600% increase in face shields through new capital investment in Acuña, Mexico
- Raw Materials: Additional, dedicated meltblown fabric manufacturing line in Lexington, N.C. to ensure end-to-end control of Owens & Minor supply chain, providing self-sufficiency from base material to finished mask—unlike other suppliers who rely on supply from Asia
The significant improvements across Owens & Minor’s facial protection categories were made possible by capital investments, improved rates of operation and increased production capacity to 24/7 shifts, the company says.