Limited Production Requested by China’s Government to Produce TPE for Medical Product
WAUKEGAN, Ill. – With medical supplies quickly dwindling in China, Nantong Polymax is one of many manufacturers that have resume production, doing their part in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, which is now officially known as COVID-19. Nantong Polymax, a sister company of PolymaxTPE, is located about 500 miles northeast of the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
Seeing the demand for medical supplies rapidly increase, the Chinese government requested Nantong Polymax to produce a critical component needed in China to combat the global epidemic. Due to the government’s request, Nantong Polymax is allowed to keep a portion of their facility open, operating with a small shift of employees to run limited production.
The product, known as P3838, is a TPE available in China and the U.S. In the case of fighting COVID-19, P3838 is molded into a diaphragm that is a critical component for a Sputum Aspirator, a medical device that uses suction to clear out the patient’s airways, making breathing easier. Aspirators are in high demand as some of the common symptoms of those infected include runny nose and difficulty breathing.
In late December of 2019, the first reports of the coronavirus outbreak in China emerged. Since then, the number of infections has increased rapidly. With more than 42,000 confirmed cases and the death toll surpassing 1,000 in mainland China alone, according to the World Health Organization, the virus has quickly grown more severe.
As the epidemic levels of COVID-19 continue, the entire country of China has seen shutdowns and disruptions to the normal routine. Companies all across China have been forced to close their doors, stopping all operations for employee safety and to limit the spread of the virus. The mandatory shutdowns were extended by local governments in China from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9 for the Lunar New Year.
ABOUT POLYMAXTPE
PolymaxTPE is a progressive and dependable private enterprise specializing in the development and manufacturing of best-in-class thermoplastic elastomers and the creation of lean solutions for use in injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding processes. Together with Nantong Polymax, their Elastomer Technology is globally considered among the best. PolymaxTPE prides themselves on team camaraderie, goodwill, and strong relationships. In a world where the bottom line is all that matters, PolymaxTPE goes out of their way to be approachable to their employees and customers, all while finding better solutions, faster.