Andrews – Industrial Opportunities Inc. began work on March 21 to design and develop samples of surgical masks that could prolong the use of all N-95 masks.
The IOI masks were sent to Carolina Textile District for testing to validate use as Level 2 surgical masks. The masks were also tested by local health departments and first responders for fit, form and function.
IOI distributed the first 5,100 finished-product masks on April 1 to the three health departments in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties, as well as to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital and other entities across western North
Carolina.
Tom O’Brien, president of IOI, said they are donating masks to the health departments, local first responders and Erlanger, while selling the masks at cost to entities in other counties. He received calls from 10 different sheriff’s offices across the region alone.
“We wanted to take care of our community first,” he said. “This all happened last week in a flurry.”
O’Brien has pulled a few people from each line – they still need to service their regular customers with products – to produce the masks. He is hoping to reach a goal of manufacturing 30,000 masks each week.
He said it feels great to be able to help the community. O’Brien is proud of his
staff for “rising to the occasion.”
“We just knew we had the skill and talent here,” he said.
O’Brien added that the business only has 190 essential employees working. The 60 adults with disabilities who receive vocational training at the business were asked to stay home as a precautionary measure.