A Janesville fabric company is stepping up to help reduce the shortage of protective face masks during the coronavirus outbreak.
Monterey Mills in Janesville normally produces fabric for paint rollers, apparel, blankets and padding, but President Dan Sinykin said they’re shifting half of their production to masks.
Monterey is partnering with sewing companies in the state, including Elder Flag in Milwaukee, to craft their polyester into masks and ship them off to medical providers.
Sinykin said they’ve also been contacted by police departments, sheriff’s offices and municipalities to supply the masks.
His team designed the product over the weekend and just started mass producing them Tuesday. Sinykin said they worked closely with area hospitals to make sure the masks meet the proper standards.
The fabric-based masks are washable, allowing medical staff to use them multiple times, as opposed to the disposable masks in short supply.
Monterey Mills’ product isn’t designed to replace the N95 respirators used by doctors and surgeons, but Sinykin said their masks can be worn by the front-line medical providers, to save the higher quality filters for the more important procedures.
