Washington D.C.—As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, more and more companies each day are lending a hand to aid in the cause. Several members of The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) are providing direct assistance to those in need during this crisis.
Following is an overview of the steps various NALFA members are taking:
Mohawk
Mohawk Industries has commissioned two of its production facilities to create much needed medical gowns and face shields for healthcare workers, local law enforcement and first responders in the North Georgia area. The company is manufacturing 8,000-10,000 face shields per day, and is ramping up to produce 5,000 gowns per day. To date, more than 6,000 medical gowns and 68,000 face shields have been produced and shipped.
Mohawk is also supporting its retailer partners via its Mohawk Retail Digest, which is distributed to dealers each week. The email blast contains resources and business tips during this unprecedented time. Additionally, the company has set up a dedicated email, Government_Relief@mohawkind.com, for customers to send questions about the CARES Act and Mohawk support.
Shaw Industries
Shaw has donated 2,000 N95 masks to local hospitals and connected medical facilities with Shaw suppliers for more rapid access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to meet growing needs. Shaw has also developed its own hand sanitizer and disinfectant for use in its north Georgia facilities, relieving pressure in the supply chain for others seeking similar materials.
In addition, Shaw has donated 100 Chromebook tablets to local school systems to provide remote sessions for speech and occupational therapy for students in need of devices while quarantined. Shaw has also provided meals from local restaurants for healthcare workers in Northwest Georgia hospitals, including a donation to Because Calhoun Cares. Lastly, Shaw associates volunteer their time in support of various COVID-19 response efforts, including leveraging the Shaw MakerSpace to 3D print face shields. These face shields as well as employee-sewn cloth masks are being donated to medical personnel.
Mannington Mills
Mannington’s plant in Madison, Ga., in collaboration with Klockner Pentaplast, is engaged in making and assembling protective face masks to donate to healthcare and law enforcement professionals around the country. In these unprecedented times, Mannington said it believes this is the ideal time to come together as an industry—to help each other and learn from each other. With that in mind, Mannington presented Stronger Together, a series of webinars that bring insight from industry experts and real-life perspective from respected retailers to help retailers navigate the issues of the day.
Torlys
Torlys is contributing to the initiative Conquer COVID-19. This is a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization comprising physicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs and other volunteers working together to ensure frontline workers have access to PPE and other supplies essential in treating patients and minimizing the spread of the virus. To date, Torlys has shipped more than 6,000 surgical masks. Visit here for more information.
Pak-Lite
This Georgia-based flooring underlayment and custom products manufacturer is manufacturing much-needed face shields for frontline medical workers and first responders. Using well-developed partnerships with their suppliers, Pak-Lite was able to procure the required materials and convert a manufacturing line and assembly area in less than two weeks to meet the first of many shipments.
Floor & Decor
The Atlanta-based specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and NALFA retail member has donated more than 7,100 N95 and KN95 respirator masks to Emory Healthcare, a leading hospital network at the forefront of treating the COVID-19 pandemic. The masks will be used to protect frontline medical workers throughout the Southeastern U.S. Additionally, Floor & Decor has donated masks and other supplies such as gloves and hand sanitizer to numerous local and national healthcare providers.
Visit NALFA for more on what its members are doing to help stop the spread.