Xylem Inc has manufactured and delivered, through partners, more than 100 000 protective face shields in Europe and the US in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The initiative used Xylem’s internal manufacturing capabilities including 3-D printing and injection molding.
Since March, Xylem partners have helped deliver the face shields to healthcare facilities and to utilities with water operators working to keep essential services flowing.
Xylem Watermark, the company’s corporate social responsibility program, worked with a number of partner organizations around the world to distribute the face shields, including:
• Wallace Eannace Associates, who helped to deliver face shields to healthcare facilities in New York and New Jersey, areas hard-hit by the virus.
• Frank P Langley Co Inc, who delivered face shields to healthcare facilities in Upstate New York.
• Hydronic Technology Inc, who delivered PPE to healthcare facilities in their home states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
• James M Pleasants Co Inc, who provided face shields to healthcare workers in North Carolina.
• RL Deppman Co, who delivered PPE to six health systems across Michigan and Northern Ohio.
The Országos Baleseti Intézet, Hospital-Clinic and Trauma Center in Budapest also received face shields, while the San Luca Hospital in Tuscany, Italy received face shields delivered in collaboration with the nonprofit association La Città delle Donne.
“We are delivering the PPE to first responders throughout the states of New York and New Jersey,” said Greg Latza, from the sales team at Wallace Eannace. “CareOne’s Wayne campus is in my neighborhood. Thanks to our partnership with Xylem Watermark, I was able to deliver this equipment to a facility I have a personal connection with.”
Xylem suppliers also contributed to the effort. Polymer Solutions, of Sarasota, Florida, provided the resin without charge and Protolabs, of Maple Plain, Minnesota, provided the molding and tool build with expedited delivery to begin production.
Earlier this year, Xylem Watermark initiated a Partner Community Grants Program, accepting nominations from Xylem customers, suppliers, and partners for grants directed to non-profit organizations working in communities heavily impacted by Covid-19, or in high-risk, low-resource locations.