The COVID-19 pandemic is the test of our time, already infecting over 1.8 million people worldwide and creating unprecedented disruption. As Gunlocke and other HNI Corporation companies navigate the uncertainty, the brands’ top priority is the health of members, partners, and the communities they serve.
To support these populations and the local health care providers on the front lines, they are producing and donating personal protective equipment (PPE) to first responders, healthcare systems, and hospitals. HNI is utilizing its factories in Iowa, North Carolina, as well as its Gunlocke, Wayland, NY facility to meet local needs, including:
● Manufacture of washable masks to support the rapid increase in demand for cloth face coverings recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and to save critical surgical masks and N-95 respirators for healthcare workers and other medical first responders
● Manufacture of washable mask covers, which fit over and extend the useful life of scarce N95 respirators
● Manufacture of protective gowns (both washable and disposable), for use in hospitals that are facing unprecedented levels of protective gown usage and limited ability to acquire more
HNI follows the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC to ensure the safest possible working environment for members as they produce these materials. HNI companies will continue to deliver these products and services in a manner consistent with the promotion of the health and well-being of all.