Partnership forms to help with PPE shortages

Specialty materials company, Eastman, and custom compounder, Rotuba, have joined together to produce face shields for healthcare professionals who are helping on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic.

The partnership was formed in a response to the reported shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in hospitals across the nation.

Rotuba, traditionally a pen manufacturer, will use Eastman cellulose acetate to create 75,000–100,000 splash guards per week to protect people from Covid-19. The company was able to transition its business operations to manufacture face shields by utilising an existing material in a new application. The splash guards will be sold across the United States and supplied to first responders at the cost to produce them.

Adam Bell, president of Rotuba and Pen Company of America commented: "Eastman and Rotuba have had a long relationship spanning over five decades of developing items consumers buy every day. When we needed a reliable supply of cellulose acetate for these face shields, we turned to Eastman."

Eastman cellulose acetate is a versatile material that is used in a variety of consumer products. The material provides the necessary optical quality, chemical resistance to hospital cleaning agents, and ability to be easily shaped for PPE. As a result, Rotuba's splash guards are comfortable and reusable forms of sustainable and affordable PPE.

Reinier de Graaf, marketing director for Eastman specialty plastics - diversified, said: "Eastman is proud to work with Rotuba to provide much-needed supplies to those who need them most. We will continue to work with companies across the value chain to quickly adapt their operations to meet unmet needs during this crisis."

Bell added: "Keeping our workforce utilised by producing the face shields instead of pens has been a great help. Thanks to the support and continued partnership Eastman has provided, we have been able to keep 35 workers employed who might have otherwise been furloughed or laid off as a result of the crisis."