Businesses join face shield effort in Richmond

RICHMOND, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Two more companies are joining Richmond-based Primex Plastics in its effort to produce face shields for healthcare workers throughout the country. Ahaus Tool & Engineering Inc. and B&F Plastics Inc, both also based in Richmond, are working with Primex to make the shields, which have been ordered by more than 75 health systems, including Reid Health.

B&F vice president Justin Scheiben says the company, which supplies products for the plastics and rubber markets, has seen a decline in business due to slowdowns in the automotive and recreational vehicle industries. He says the company has transitioned 12 employees to the fabrication portion of the face shield process, which has helped prevent potential layoffs and cuts in hours.

B&F has also purchased some of the face shields and donated them to local law enforcement agencies.

Ahaus says its employees have been able to assemble 75,000 to 100,000 face shields per week. 

“This production atmosphere is a challenge for our team, which is accustomed to designing and building custom equipment,” said Kevin Ahaus, co-owner and president of Ahaus Tool & Engineering. “The project should give many of us a renewed appreciation and understanding of how our equipment helps the overall process and lives of those making products on a daily basis. We are also very excited to be working with other companies in Richmond to help people serving on the front lines of this crisis. We know that the people of the community come together in times of need, and this moment is no different.”

Primex began producing the face shields last month. Doug Borgsdorf, business unit director for Primex, says the companies are now able to produce nearly 350,000 face shields and 20,000 “bio helmet” shields per week.

“I think this really goes to the heart of small town USA and the drive of people working together in ways we probably never thought possible,” Doug Borgsdorf, business unit director for Primex, said in a news release. “I’m so very proud.”