MILWAUKEE — Olympus Group, a company that usually produces custom flags, banners, signs and mascots is stepping up to help local hospitals stock up on face shields.
The company saw its business grind to a halt as the coronavirus spread worldwide. Sports teams and trade shows were halting orders and the company was almost forced to stop production and eliminate jobs.
Instead, CEO Brian Adam said leaders made a decision to retool the manufacturing warehouse to help produce gear needed by doctors, nurses and medical professionals, combating the coronavirus on the front lines.
"We tried to pivot the business a little bit and use some of the same equipment we use to produce mascots and banners to produce face shields and face masks for the medical community," said Adam.
The company worked with a local infectious disease expert at a local hospital to design face masks and Olympus started cranking out thousands of face shields.
They're producing up to 3,000 shields per day at their Milwaukee location, and in Orlando, Fl., up to 100,000 face masks are also being produced by the company.
The shields made here in Milwaukee won't travel far. They will end up in the hands of medical staff at three local hospitals.
Meanwhile, Herzing University, based in Menomonee Falls, is also stepping up to help pay for all the face shields being made. They've purchased 10,000 face shields to be donated.
President of Herzing University, Renee Herzing, said the donation was made with their own healthcare students and medical partners in mind.
"We wanted to be sure they had the protective gear that they needed and the best way to do that was to support a new local supplier," said Herzing.
The mascot-making company is stepping up to meet demand during a critical time.