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Why American-Made Face Masks Will Keep Your Doors Open

Premium-PPE is one of the few companies that make three-ply masks in America.

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Three-ply disposable face masks were once only used by doctors and healthcare providers. Now, they’re required by manufacturers, state and local governments, and an entire alphabet soup of federal agencies.

Premium-PPE is one of the few companies that make three-ply masks in America. Now that factory workers are required to wear these masks at all times, it's important to have them on-hand. As Brent Dillie, Commercial Director of Premium-PPE says, if factories don't have them on hand, it could shut down operations.

When the pandemic hit, manufacturers and distributors were making panic buys direct from Asia or through fly-by-night importers in the US. In many cases, companies shelled out a 100-percent down payment and never received the product; or it was delayed; or poor quality

Premium-PPE is not only making American masks, but the company offers peace of mind with supply chain security.

The company makes masks at its facilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The company keeps about one million in stock and ships them same day. Another benefit: When you call the company, you get a live person. Customer service, how novel.

The company is made up of mostly local hires, machine operators who work on three stage machines that join the three fibrous layers, cut the masks and then add the earloops.

According to Dillie, the root of the nation's PPE problem started years ago, when mask and other safety equipment manufacturing was driven overseas. Dillie says that "COVID was the point that all of the off-shoring came back to really bite us as a country." He says we need US mask makers so we can ramp up production immediately in an emergency.

While some workers think mask policies are overkill, Dillie stresses that mandatory mask policies should be in effect until the US has a full handle on the current virus. Masks help keep the wearer safe, but they also dramatically reduce the amount of airborne particulate.

Aside from the patriotic aspect of buying American, it comes down to business continuity and cost-benefit decisions. Businesses and our government have made these masks a requirement for operating. Businesses who can't secure this product are literally shutting down production. According to Dillie, the risk of relying on importing masks, primarily from China, is just too great. Dillie asks, β€œCan you risk your business continuity and workforce on US-China relations, an outbreak in China that causes their government to ban exports, or difficulties of international shipping, customs and importation?”

Finally, when shopping around, he’s what you should look for to make sure your doors stay open: 

  • Shoot for Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of 95% or above -- when suppliers go cheap on materials, mask efficacy plummets. 
  • Make sure the ear loops are ultrasonically welded, not sewn -- this will prevent earloops from falling off.


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