Pennsylvania Vinyl Film Manufacturer Retools to Make Critical PPE

As the coronavirus began to sweep through the Greater New York area, swamping hospitals and leaving health care workers wearing trash bags and reusing single-use personal protective equipment (PPE), Pennsylvania-based i2M recognized it could help.

A manufacturer of flexible polymer films for everything from waterproofing liners to roofing membranes, the company knew it already had in its hands a key asset: vinyl. As i2M COO Alex Grover put it bluntly, “Vinyl can be  sturdy as hell.”

Translation: vinyl is easily cleaned and can be formulated with anti-microbial properties, making it a useful tool in the fight against COVID-19 .

Vital PPE for Frontline Workers

The company made the decision on a Sunday in mid-March to make anti-microbial vinyl gowns for frontline hospital staff, nursing home workers, first responders and others on the frontlines of the pandemic. The gowns are designed to fit like a standard, non-isolation gown with long sleeves and thumb loops. By Thursday of the same week, they were up and running, having not only shifted production lines but also the packaging, sales, and accounting processes needed to distribute gowns directly to those who need them most.

i2M is also manufacturing anti-microbial vinyl mattress/stretcher covers and 100% cotton face coverings.

The company’s first PPE run included a 1,000-gown donation to the local hospital system. Since then they’ve seen demand skyrocket. They expect to produce 10,000 gowns by the end of April. i2M is committed to working with their gown fabrication partner, Mountain Productions, Inc to ramp up production as much as they can and as needed.

Finally, COO Grover stressed that this is about doing the right thing. The company is selling the supplies at cost because “it’s our responsibility as U.S. manufacturers to step up to the plate and make sure those who need it have it.”

Find more about PVC/vinyl on the frontlines for COVID-19 relief here.