Milliken Pivots to Produce Advanced Medical PPE
TRSA associate member Milliken & Co., Spartanburg, SC, is leveraging its materials science expertise to manufacture much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for the healthcare industry amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.
Milliken’s advanced medical fabrics and barriers are currently available and complement Milliken’s BioSmartTM antimicrobial technology used in scrubs, lab coats and hospital privacy curtains. These products use the power of bleach to kill up to 99.9% of common bacteria on contact, according to the release.
Milliken is manufacturing critical barrier protection fabrics to be used in gowns and headcovers for healthcare professionals. Milliken also is researching and developing materials for incorporation into N95-grade masks. These new innovations complement Milliken’s existing range of products that can be used for temporary shelters in situations where it’s deemed necessary to set up transitory field hospitals.
“We have focused our development and manufacturing processes to help fight the battle against COVID-19,” said Halsey M. Cook, Milliken & Co. president and CEO. “We began by engineering our existing textiles into medical-grade fabrics for PPE, and we will continue to seek critical solutions as we navigate this uncharted territory as a company, a nation and a world.”
These new advanced medical textiles and barriers are made in the United States and a result of the company applying deep knowledge in material science to modify fabrics that would meet the critical requirements for garments worn by healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 virus.
“Our team of scientists and developers is fully engaged, uncovering solutions to address critical medical and protective needs for those fighting on the front lines of this pandemic,” said Chad McAllister, president and EVP, Textile Division.
To read the full release, click here.