Although some 1,400 Ohio companies ultimately volunteered, a total of 19 companies were chosen for the effort before that full number stepped forward for the project.
Together, their goal is to produce thousands of protective face shields for health care workers — 650,000 to 1 million of them, all told.
Although 1,400 manufacturers have volunteered to help with producing the needed gear, for this particular effort, there will be at least 19 companies involved, organizers said Thursday. Trifecta Tool and Engineering in Kettering, and Evenflo in Piqua, are the two local companies.
JobsOhio will supply the plastic to the manufacturers, DeWine said in a press conference Thursday.
It wasn’t immediately clear how or whether the companies involved would be compensated for the work.
The plastic facial shields will go into the Ohio Department of Health stockpile of personal protective equipment for distribution across the state. The shields can be sterilized and re-used, the governor said.
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Phillip Ratermann, executive director of Fastlane, said the effort involves a partnership with its Cleveland affiliate, Magnet, as well as all similarly situated manufacturing consultants across Ohio.
“Our relationship has never been stronger, and the results which will be coming out of this Ohio Manufacturing Alliance for COVID-19 will generate life-saving personal protective equipment for our hospital front-line nurses and doctors to help keep them protected as the surge hits our state,” Ratermann said.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Military Reserve in Columbus, is receiving, inventorying, storing, and packaging protective equipment, while Ohio Air National Guard members are supporting the Ohio Department of Health with logistics and warehousing, the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department said Wednesday.
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