Joining the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the injection molding team at A.L.P. LexaLite’s Charlevoix, MI facility mobilized to design and manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) face shields for front-line health care workers.  They rapidly reorganized tooling and manufacturing functions to support this critical need, and they expect to have the first production models coming off the presses within days.

The company was initially approached by Charlevoix Hospital, looking for PPE. While primarily a manufacturer supplying components for lighting fixtures, A.L.P. has several customers in the health care sector.  The team drew on its knowledge of health care requirements and standards to quickly design and tool the face shields in an unprecedented 10-day turnaround.

When in full production, A.L.P. can produce approximately 1400 face shields per day, and they plan to sell them at cost. “We will make them as long as they are needed,” states Steve Brown, CEO.

“This is one scenario I didn’t see coming,” Brown adds.  “The COVID-19 crisis is tragic, yet it shows us what we can accomplish together when needed,” he observes.  A.L.P. is not alone, as manufacturers all over the country are making similar efforts.

The A.L.P. face shield has some unique features.  The plastic shield snaps onto a headband, and the shield is disposable.  So, the caregiver can use the same headband throughout the day and simply snap on a new shield for each patient.

A.L.P. continues to operate during this crisis as an Essential Business, supplying into vital infrastructure such as construction, health care, transit, and government. The company has adjusted its practices, with the health and safety of employees, families, and communities as a top priority.  The A.L.P. staff is working remotely when possible.  All manufacturing locations have implemented additional measures to ensure safe distancing of employees, such as adjusting schedules, spacing equipment, and reorganizing meeting and break room spaces.

A.L.P. is a leading global supplier of lighting components, offering a diverse line of products and services for lighting OEMs and the aftermarket. From LED to legacy applications, A.L.P. offers the industry's most comprehensive line of LED fixture kits, vapor-proof enclosures, unwired fixture bodies, louvers and reflectors. A.L.P. Brands include Steel Craft, LexaLite®, and Reflek®.

For more information, contact Lisa Yeadon, Director of Marketing Communications, at (773) 550-4605 or [email protected].