Eastman donates materials for lenses, face shields to Purdue

KINGSPORT, Tn. (Inside INdiana Business) — Eastman is donating materials to make protective lenses and face shields for medical personnel, including over 600 feet of material to Purdue University. Volunteer staff and faculty are working with the university’s laser cutting system to make 3,000 lenses and 4,000 face shields. The new PPE will be distributed among Indiana hospitals.

“I’m proud of the speed at which the Eastman team was able to get material to the teams at Purdue,” said Brendan Boyd, Vice President, Specialty Plastics & Fibers Technology said. “The need for more protective equipment is urgent. We value these innovative partnerships that can meet a significant community need quickly and effectively.”

Volunteers and faculty members are using a pilot-scale manufacturing facility at Purdue’s Bechtel Innovation Design Center to make the PPE.

“Under guidance from medical professionals, we have redesigned and manufactured complex fittings for ventilators and are actively producing laser cut, waterjet cut, and 3D-printed parts for face shields and safety glasses,” said David McMillan, assistant director of the center.

Eastman has also donated materials to Tennessee, Virginia and Brazil to produce face shields, and also donated resins to European customers who are making hand sanitizers.