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Cartons unveil masks during 'swine flu' outbreak

The H1N1 ‘swine flu’ outbreak offers a healthy outlook for American firm’s manufacturing/packaging operations.

windowed cartons. A circular PP window enables medical personnel to identify the mask variety without having to first open the c
windowed cartons. A circular PP window enables medical personnel to identify the mask variety without having to first open the c

 It turns out there’s actually a healthy viewpoint regarding the frenzy over the “swine flu,” or to be more precise, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. At least that’s the prognosis from partner companies Prestige Ameritech and the Encompass Group. Beginning in late April, the surge of public demand for protective facial masks turned Prestige’s world upside-down as the sole U. S. manufacturer of the devices. The Encompass Group now markets the ProGear line of masks in windowed cartons, enabling medical professionals to identify mask varieties without having to first open the carton in the hospital or clinic.

“The swine flu is a reminder of how quickly a pandemic can be upon us,” says Tony Hanson, managing director of marketing for McDonough, GA-based Encompass Grove. “We are keeping in touch with our government contacts to get the latest updates as we learn more about the swine flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending the use of certain types of face masks if you are in close contact with someone who has, or may have the swine flu, even though the airborne contaminate issue is still being debated.”

Mike Bowen, executive vice president for Richland Hills, TX-based Prestige Ameritech, says the masks help to protect both the wearer and those around the wearer.

Prestige designs and builds the equipment that takes rolls of propylene-based nonwoven materials and manufacturers it into masks, either with or without ties or headbands. At this point, different varieties of masks are manually placed into hand-erected paperboard cartons, although Bowen is considering automating the process. At press time, the company planned to add 20 workers to help with skyrocketing orders.

“Surgical masks are used in hospitals. They’re not used by the general public,” Bowen said in an April 30 CNN.com online report. “So when the general public starts wanting face masks, the supply gets short really quickly.”

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