News Information and Media Site: Sports: Companies Shift to Making Medical Supplies

April 9, 2020

Sports Companies Shift to Making Medical Supplies

In Lawrence, Mass., the New Balance athletic shoe company is making face masks for healthcare workers after consulting with local physicians and experts at Harvard and M.I.T.New Balance

The shortage of medical equipment during the coronavirus pandemic has united an unlikely collection of companies: Gucci, Bauer, Prada, New Balance and Dior, among others, have all shifted to making medical supplies.

Fashion houses and Formula One teams alike are manufacturing essential items like ventilators, hand sanitizers and personal protective gear, including gowns, masks and face shields, David Waldstein writes.

Fanatics, a company that normally makes baseball uniforms, is using that fabric — pinstripes and all — to manufacture masks and gowns. ROKiT Williams Racing has joined other Formula One teams to produce ventilators. New Balance is making cloth face masks for doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

And last week, the New England Patriots sent one of its team jets to China to bring back 1.2 million N95 protective masks.

Ed Kinnaly, the chief executive of Bauer hockey equipment, which is making face shields for medical personnel, said the competitive spirit is well suited for combating the pandemic.

“Our company culture is an athletic mind-set,” he said. “Our employees viewed this challenge of beating this virus like beating a competitor.”

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