Nike is manufacturing protective masks for healthcare workers

Nike announced Tuesday that it has adjusted its facilities to produce protective masks for frontline workers.

Working alongside the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), the Oregon-based company has carefully shifted its production to rework already owned materials into certified protective gear.

“Nike’s innovation, manufacturing and product teams have come together to provide for an urgent need: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of full-face shields and powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) lenses,” reads the announcement.

Nike Inc.

Repurposing things like collar padding from sneakers and cords meant for apparel, full-face shields that are viably protective and easy to make are coming off the line.

The facility specializes in “custom extrusion of polyurethane film and sheet,” which Nike says makes them especially suited and properly equipped to serve this urgent need for PPE supplies.

The building and assembly of the new masks consists of a nine-step process and was designed through a collaborative effort between Nike’s Innovation and Manufacturing teams.

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The first shipment was sent out to OHSU on Friday, April 3.

“I’ve been so inspired by how our community has united to meet this health crisis,” says Danny Jacobs, MD, MPH, FACS, President, Oregon Health & Science University, in the Nike blog post. “We are forever grateful to the commitment of our colleagues at Nike, as their dedication to our united effort will help save lives.”

The frontline support comes less than a month after Nike, and other retailers, closed the doors to their businesses due to the spread of coronavirus.