In Time of Need Midwest Companies are Stepping Up to Combat COVID-19

The Midwest is renown for its tough and resilient nature. But also true in the wake of COVID-19, is the quick-thinking response of tens of manufacturing and engineering companies in the area. A call-to-action we can all appreciate given the circumstances of our country and the globe in combating this virus.

GSC Customers & Partners Making a Difference

We’re proud and grateful to our customers, partners, and neighbors making vital equipment by manufacturing face masks and shields, by making ventilator components and carts, and so much more.

We need you, and in these uncertain and stressful times, we’re humbled by the helpful actions you’re taking to save lives.

Here are a few of their stories and amazing contributions.

Ventilator Components & Carts

Midwest Products & Engineering (MPE)

Milwaukee-based MPE is quickly producing medical carts used to transport ventilator systems. According to BizTimes Media, the demand is outpacing supplies. MPE is shifting gears to meet this growing need.

GE Healthcare

Chicago-based GE Healthcare is producing ventilators and other vital medical equipment around the clock. GE Healthcare’s Wisconsin-based manufacturing plant in Madison will be contributing to ventilator production.

Pindel Global Precision

CEO of Pindel Global Precision, Bill Berrien has pledged to make ventilator parts at cost until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. They are already pivoting to make these part requests with very tight turnaround times. Find more on the New Berlin company and their efforts.

Face Masks & Shields

Delve, Placon Corp & Midwest Prototyping

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has assembled a team of impressive companies to create a medical face shield. This includes Delve, Placon Corp, and Midwest Prototyping in addition to the UW Hospital and UW Makerspace.

Design and engineering company Delve and these partners have generously provided an open-source face shield drawing and model with material recommendations and more. Placon is supplying Delve with plastic sheets and Midwest Prototyping is contributing to production as well:

Prent Corporation

Prent Corporation was contacted by Janesville, WI hospital, Mercy Hospital, to help fill a shortage of face shields. In 48 hours, Prent delivered 10,000 face shields to Rock County healthcare workers and first responders.

HP 3D Printing

The PA 12 material offered by HP 3D Printing is bio-compatible for skin contact, so there are many applications it can be used for.  Face shields, mask adjusters, and field respirators are some of the available designs. We’re proud to be a partner of HP 3D Printing – if you have any questions, please let us know.

We’re mobilizing HP’s global #3D printing capabilities to deliver critical parts to hospitals, such as mask adjusters & face shields. More than 1K of these parts have been distributed. Read more: https://t.co/W4mb5mUPVs #COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/wafY1hGevm

— HP (@HP) March 24, 2020

Testing Kits

Thermo Fisher Scientific

While the tests themselves aren’t manufactured in Madison, Thermo Fisher Scientific was the second company (after Roche) to have an FDA-approved COVID-19 test. The test can reportedly provide results within four hours, including the time needed to prepare the sample and perform the analysis.

Teel Plastics

Teel Plastics of Baraboo, WI is producing a component of the testing kits.

Exact Sciences & Promega

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has mentioned Madison-based Exact Sciences will be used as a resource to combat COVID-19.

“State officials also are working with Wisconsin-based companies like health-care software giant Epic Systems and biotechnology businesses Exact Sciences and Promega. The trio will help state health officials track patients, expand testing and produce more testing ingredients,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Promega, the Fitchburg or Madison-based company, is supplying materials for the tests.

Cleaning & Disinfecting Products

SC Johnson

SC Johnson has committed $5 million in products and cash to combat COVID-19. “SC Johnson is teaming with the CDC Foundation to deliver care packages for police, fire and medical personnel. The care packages, which will include cleaning and disinfectant products made by SC Johnson, will be delivered in an initial wave of 20,000 in conjunction with the CDC Foundation in areas across the U.S.,” according to both SC Johnson and BizTimes Media.

3D Printing for Innovation & Factory Modification

Materialise – An Agnostic File Prep Software

Materialise has developed a hands-free door opener and provided the files for free online. We are a proud partner of Materialise, if you have any questions, please let us know.

If you would like more design options, view these other models and technical information.

Markforged 3D Printing

As a partner to Markforged, we’re proud to see the innovative steps they’re taking to combat COVID-19. They’re doing 3 things: seeking high impact projects (such as nasal swabs for testing and face guards), seeking input from expert testing facilities of how they can reimagine their factory lines, and activating their network of 10,000 global Markforged printers to help hospitals and other vital areas.

Contact Us

Have a question? We’re always available to talk over the phone, for you to leave a message, or for you to submit a request – just contact us.

If you’re looking to accelerate production, we have many excellent tools at our disposal to help you. From 3D printing to simulation, we can offer helpful avenues to fast-track product development.