NOVI, Mich. (WXYZ) — We all hear the line, "we are all in this together," and it is so true when you see local companies jumping into action to help protect medical workers and the public.
Shaw PPC Design is one such company. With factories in Detroit and Novi, it typically makes graphics, signage and display fixtures. But now, it's making products to protect us all during the coronavirus outbreak.
When you hear our governor and lawmakers making cries for help because there's a shortage of protective gear for our medical workers on the front line.
It makes Livonia native and president of Shaw PPC Design proud to answer the call for help. Laird Plastics asked the owner of the company to help assemble protective face shields for a large health care provider.
"We have a high speed laser to cut face shield up then we assemble foam for the forehead and elastic around head," said Tom Smith, owner of Shaw PPC Design.
Beginning last week on Wednesday, they began production and will pump out 10 - to 15,000 face shields a week for hospital workers and Smith says this work is heartfelt.
In addition to the face shield, Shaw PPC is making something to keep you safe at store checkouts, which are sneeze guards for grocery stores.
The sneeze guards they're creating will go up in Michigan's Bush's grocery stores between Friday and Monday to keep both employees and customers safe.
Lastly, they're making floor graphics to make sure you are maintaining a 6-foot social distance when you are in line at the store.
"The graphic adhesive people will line up on, rather than the crowding into the person in front of them," Smith said.
Shaw PPC is keeping 20 employees working right now with one eight hour shift per day. And while they are happy to be working, there's still one downside – the fear of working in a large room with others.
"We've got them spaced 6-feet apart with masks and shields," Smith said.
Laird plastics has an order for one million face shields and thanks to Shaw, they will be able to reach that number a lot quicker to keep people on the front lines safe.
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