Cantel Medical (NYSE:CMD) announced last week that it is increasing production of its surgical earloop dental mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company is increasing manufacturing by its HuFriedyGroup dental division to 24 hours a day, seven days a week at its two New York manufacturing sites. The expectation is that production volume will increase by more than 50%.
Cantel said in a news release that the additional hours and production capacity has already enabled the production of more than 4.4 million masks per week, with output on protective face shields increasing by 50% with the expectation that it will be increased by 100% in two weeks. The products are being deployed to both dental and medical customers.
HuFriedyGroup is also increasing sourcing through sub-suppliers with the intention of increasing the availability of hand sanitzier, hand sanitizing wipes, protective eyewear and surface disinfectants.
Cantel added that its AdvantaClear surface disinfectant was added to the EPA’s list of disinfectants that are effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. The company is also investing in a resource center for coronavirus education to ensure customers are up-to-date on the virus and its impact.
“We are doing everything we can to contribute to the global effort focused on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cantel president & CEO George Fotiades said in the release. “Supporting those on the front lines, in addition to our global employee base, is job one, and we are working closely with distribution partners to ensure that our masks, PPE and other infection prevention solutions are going to those who are most in need. Infection prevention is the core of our company’s mission, and we are doing everything possible to deliver key products and services to serve and protect healthcare professionals.”
