Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Covercraft Industries is bringing its Wichita Falls production facility back online to expand the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) due to increased demand and need during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Covercraft Expands Production of Personal Protective Equipment in Texas Facility
Covercraft Industries is bringing its Wichita Falls production facility back online to expand the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) due to increased demand and need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company began PPE production in its Oklahoma facility March 30. At the time of this release, there were approximately 50 Oklahoma employees and 40 Texas employees brought back from furlough to produce protective gowns and masks. Groups or organizations in need of PPE products should contact Covercraft at 405-367-8930 or covercraftppe@covercraft.com.
Tenneco Partners With GM to Increase Production of Ventilators
Tenneco has partnered with General Motors to supply components to increase the production of ventilators needed to support the medical community. According to a statement from the company, partnering in and supporting this effort to help mitigate this widespread lack of vital equipment is something it is proud to be able to do.
CRP Technology Manufacturing Emergency Valves
CRP Technology is manufacturing several functional prototypes of emergency valves for reanimation devices and link-components for emergency respiratory masks for assisted ventilation. The CRP Technology’s Rapid Prototyping Department has used the 3D printing technology called HSS (High Speed Sintering) and the Windform P1 isotropic material to make both types of components. For more information, visit www.crptechnology.com.
 Matt Beenen, 2018 SEMA Launch Pad winner, is shifting production at BuiltRight Industries to make face shields in order to meet the needs of his community, customers and their families in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. |
BuiltRight Industries to Make Face Shields for Medical Personnel
Matt Beenen, 2018 SEMA Launch Pad winner, is shifting production at BuiltRight Industries to make face shields in order to meet the needs of his community, customers and their families in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. BuiltRight manufactures truck organization accessories and has a wide range of prototyping equipment in-house, so, Beenan selected a design for a protective face shield and proceeded to produce a 3D-printed frame. He found that clear binder covers, readily available through office supply outlets online, could be hole-punched to fit onto the face shield. He put his 3D printer to work, offered his online community the face shields and found the demand was overwhelming. One printer just wasn’t enough, so Beenan ordered four more 3D printers. With five printers running 12 hours a day, Beenan is producing and distributing 120 shields daily. He anticipates doubling that output in the coming week.
With growing demand and to expedite the request process, BuiltRight added the Protective Face Shield Kit as an online product—a package of five plastic frames and 10 replaceable shields for shipping cost plus $2 toward production. All components are washed and users are instructed to sanitize before use. Local hospitals, fire departments and first responder groups have reached out and are among those who received the first 500 face shields produced. For more information about BuiltRight or its face shield initiative, contact Beenen at matt@builtrightind.com.
ReadyLIFT Suspensions Acquires Zbroz Racing
ReadyLIFT Suspensions has announced that it has acquired Zbroz Racing—an aftermarket performance parts manufacturer focused on UTV and snowmobile suspension components. ReadyLIFT is a division of Wheel Pros, the preeminent distributor of proprietary branded aftermarket products for vehicles and powersports. Wheel Pros is backed by Clearlake Capital Group L.P.—a private investment firm. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. Zbroz was founded in 1998 by the four Zollinger brothers after their successful snowmobile hill climbing career. Today the company provides suspension products for snowmobiles and UTVs.
Fleece Performance to Develop Face Shields
Fleece Performance has redeployed its engineers and a portion of its flexible manufacturing space to develop, test, document, and begin producing a disposable full face shield for medical professionals nationwide. Officials report the ability to produce 500 shields per single shift, with up to 100,000 units made each day. For more information, visit www.fleeceperformance.com.
PRP to Produce Masks for Healthcare and Essential Workers
PRP, a manufacturer of suspension seats and accessories for off-road vehicles, has started to manufacture face masks out of its California facility to help protect healthcare and essential workers across the country. PRP will produce three different types of masks, as well as a plastic face shield. The first of the three—a one-piece mask—will be comprised of one layer of cotton jersey knit fabric. The second—a tri-fold mask—will have two-layer cotton knit. The last will be comprised of one layer of cotton, one layer of bamboo antimicrobial fabric and one layer of copper mesh. PRP has reached out to owners of essential businesses and is currently donating masks so they can remain open. Additionally, the company has been communicating with local healthcare facilities to donate the tri-fold masks with the copper mesh layer.
 Lubrication Specialties is making an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to assist with preventative care during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Lubrication Specialties Inc. to Produce Hand Sanitizer in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Lubrication Specialties Inc. (LSI) has announced it is redeploying a portion of the company’s Mt Gilead, Ohio, manufacturing facility and headquarters to make alcohol-based hand sanitizer to assist with preventative care during the COVID-19 pandemic. LSI will manufacture up to 4,500 bottles of 4 oz. hand-sanitizer over the next few weeks and continue operations as long as supplies of raw materials are available. The hand sanitizer will be a 75% isopropyl alcohol antiseptic, non-sterile solution.
Ray Weaver to Lead Quadratec Wholesale Division
Quadratec Inc. has appointed Ray Weaver to oversee its wholesale division. Weaver brings 22 years of management experience in automotive wholesale sales and marketing to the company. He will focus on acquiring and developing business-to-business relationships with resellers throughout the aftermarket Jeep landscape. He will be based at Quadratec’s headquarters in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and report to President and COO John Stewart. Weaver joins Quadratec following 10 years as northeast sales manager and national WD sales manger for Omix-ADA.
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