American Elite Molding, a manufacturer of cable ties, announces the start-up of a new company to address the dire need for U.S.-manufactured materials for the personal protective equipment market in the U.S. The new company, American Elite Personal Protective Equipment (American Elite PPE), will begin production of meltblown polypropylene, the critical filter medium used in medical grade face masks and gowns, in early September 2020.

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the fact that the supply of materials used to make personal protective equipment comes primarily from offshore manufacturers, and the risks of that have become apparent as widespread delays, shortages, and quality issues have occurred. The key to highly effective masks and gowns is the layer of meltblown polypropylene. This material filters very small particles and organisms efficiently while allowing enough porosity to breathe easily. American Elite PPE is gaining U.S. control of this crucial product by investing in its own manufacturing facility and establishing a U.S.-based supply chain.

American Elite PPE will manufacture meltblown filter material, the critical medium used in medical grade face masks and gowns, using polypropylene sourced from U.S. manufacturers. The filtering material will be made in the company’s Florida location by American workers, using equipment that has been designed, manufactured, and machined in the U.S. with advanced machining techniques used in domestic high tech industries.

"No longer will China control the supply of this vitally important material,” says American Elite Molding dounder and CEO Robert Sires. “We are proud to be an American manufacturer that produces more than 1.5 billion cable ties in the United States utilizing American-made raw material and supplies. We have proven ourselves to be highly competitive with manufacturers in China and other offshore locations. Now, through our new company American Elite PPE, we will provide American-made products for the personal protective equipment that our front line healthcare providers, first responders, and citizens are so dependent upon. Our production lines are staffed by Americans who are committed to manufacturing the highest quality filter material. We manufacture to tight specifications so our customers can trust that they are getting the protection they need. We believe that during this crisis, it’s vital for the U.S. to secure a reliable, sustainable source of PPE material supply for critical healthcare needs, and for Americans to buy from U.S. businesses to support our economy and our workers. This new initiative delivers on both counts.”