Purdue MEP Launches COVID Assistance Initiative

During these difficult, yet critical times, we recognize that Indiana manufacturers have stepped up to help supply goods desperately needed for the fight against COVID-19. We are grateful for these efforts, and commend the manufacturing community for their resourcefulness and ingenuity.

At the start of the crisis, the Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership launched the Critical PPE Manufacturing Initiative to provide manufacturers with real-time information, resources, and tools to manufacture urgently needed medical PPE during this evolving global pandemic. We are now working with more than 70 companies to remove barriers to PPE production to get these critical supplies into the hands of front-line healthcare workers.

Purdue MEP appreciates each of the manufacturers who have offered their services to assist with COVID-19 PPE production. We are engaged with more than 60 companies in a multitude of efforts, including the removal of barriers to PPE production and getting these critical supplies into the hands of front-line healthcare workers. A few of these stories are outlined below.

As the needs of hospitals and caregivers change and evolve in response to this outbreak, we will continue to identify and engage with additional manufacturers to increase the availability of PPE and medical supplies.

Success Spotlight - Purdue MEP Assists Clothing Company with PPE Manufacturing Supplies

Purdue MEP is assisting a large multi-state clothing company with Indiana-sourced N95 materials for immediate COVID-19 production PPE response. This assistance will aid the company in producing up to 150,000 masks per day on an ongoing basis. Several similar local supply requests are also being coordinated by the Purdue MEP team.

Success Spotlight - Purdue MEP Facilitates Production of Much-Needed Hand Sanitizer

Purdue MEP is working diligently with an Indiana bottle manufacturer, to connect them with manufacturers of hand sanitizer. So far, three US manufacturers who have a critical need for plastic bottles have been connected to this Indiana company. Purdue MEP anticipates connecting even more companies in the days and weeks ahead, as these plastic bottles are in high demand.

Success Spotlight – Purdue MEP Tackles Challenging Supply Issue for Company

Purdue MEP is working with a Nebraska-based company seeking a supply of infra-red thermometers. Purdue MEP was successfully able to identify and connect this company with a regional pharmaceutical distributor able to supply the urgently needed thermometers.

Success Spotlight - Purdue MEP Assists Wabash National with Face Shield Production

Wabash National is using their production facilities in Frankfort, Indiana to make plastic face shields for their community. Purdue MEP successfully connected them with a Central Indiana healthcare network to get thousands of these urgently needed face shields to the front lines.