OLD FORT, N.C. (BRAIN) — Aided by Industry Nine, Watershed drybags and Oowee Products, Kitsbow Cycling Apparel shipped its first personal protective equipment Friday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kitsbow is manufacturing face masks and face shields for first responders and medical staff. It was sewing hundreds of masks a day and assembling thousands of shields daily after converting PPE manufacturing last week, Kitsbow CEO David Billstrom said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
On Friday, Industry Nine, Watershed, and Oowee combined to cut and prepare for assembly 30,000 shields. Kitsbow ordered enough plastic to manufacture 800,000 shields and hired three full-time and nine temporary employees to aid in manufacturing. Kitsbow is still hiring.
It also ordered and received additional sewing machines from America's 21st Inc., Toyota Sew System consultants that helped Kitsbow design its new factory in Old Fort.
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Industry Nine is helping prepare face shields for assembly. -
Kitsbow Cycling Apparel has started shipping PPE.
