Let’s Not Forget Our Other Heroes…Michigan Manufacturers!

Dan Radomski
Director, Centrepolis Accelerator

Centrepolis Accelerator staff reacted quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic by reaching out and activating its manufacturing network partners to see who was in position to produce critical medical supplies and connected them directly with local hospitals, assisted living centers and emergency medical teams during this time of need.  

When the COVID pandemic hit and local health care givers were facing scarce supply of personal protection equipment (PPE), it was our local manufacturers who stepped up to save the day. Several companies like Vaughn in Oxford, who converted from making hockey equipment to making gowns; Detroit Sewn in Pontiac and Commonwealth Sewing in Detroit, small sewing operations who quickly responded to stitch cloth face masks and isolation gowns; and one of our own clients Pingree in Detroit, who shifted from making shoes and leather goods to making face shields.

The list of heroes did not stop there. Others in the manufacturing value chain came to the rescue including Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) in Detroit, who enlisted 80 local sewing operations to sew gowns and masks; local distilleries Valentine Vodka in Ferndale and Detroit City Distillery in Detroit ,who transitioned to make hand sanitizer; and our partner Contrast Engineering, who pivoted from CAD work to make face masks.

When we needed help the most, over 100 Michigan manufacturers stepped up to the cause. It was companies as big as Ford, GM and Carhartt to small five person sewing operations. People have heard me say this before, but the manufacturing community often is over shadowed by promising software and app unicorn companies. Bottom line, when we found ourselves in a crisis, it was our manufacturing firms that bailed us out. I hope we will never forget this and be grateful for their contributions. And, why I know as soon as the China low cost manufacturing spigot gets turned back on and, starts to flood the global market with 2 cent PPE, our Michigan manufacturers will return to making their normal products and do what they do best. I sincerely hope that some of the small manufacturers that had to make this pivot survive and that we collectively show them patronage in the aftermath because they certainly deserve it!

I am also very proud of Centrepolis and our lab partner Mirari, utilizing our 3D printing machines in our lab to make face shields, producing roughly 100/day. The shields are being donated to local nursing homes that do not have a budget for these critical PPE items. It is a small contribution and I wish we could do more, but when you gather our help with the actions of many Michigan manufacturers, the impact is significant and meaningful.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa

For a comprehensive list of Michigan manufacturers of PPE, click here. Please pass along to those that are in need.