LIXIL Americas retools equipment to make face shields for frontline workers
With its headquarters positioned in central New Jersey and in close proximity to New York City, the LIXIL Americas team is centered in the area of the country hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic — and its dedicated team immediately set out to help.
Knowing there was an urgent need for PPE in the medical community, LIXIL’s team began brainstorming ways it could help alleviate that pain point for workers on the front lines. Its engineering team developed a creative solution that allowed LIXIL to repurpose the 3D printers and packaging equipment at its R&D facility in Piscataway, New Jersey to make much-needed face shields. Despite challenges including limited hours of operation at its R&D center, sourcing of supplies and resources and reduced staffing, LIXIL was able to ramp up production and assembly of the face shields to make about 120 shields per week through its team of employee volunteers.