Gorham-based Flowfold has pivoted to manufacturing face shields for healthcare workers.

Flowfold, the Gorham-based manufacturer of durable outdoor and travel gear, announced Tuesday that it was suspending production of its typical product lines to manufacture protective gear for hospitals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of bags, packs and its other typical travel gear, the company’s factory is already churning out protective face shields for frontline healthcare workers. Face shields can help keep healthcare workers safe during prolonged face-to-face or close contact with potentially infectious patients. Unfortunately, hospitals around the country are experiencing shortages of protective gear.

“We felt the effects of the virus in our community and wanted to be a part of the solution,” Devin McNeill, Flowfold’s co-founder, said in a statement. “Taking a look at our production capabilities, we found we could quickly pivot to manufacture face shields.”

Flowfold’s first order of face shields is going out to MaineHealth this week, according to a news release.

“It is times like these when coming together as a community to support one another – individuals, non-profit organizations and business partners – reflects the very best of humanity,” MaineHealth CEO Bill Caron said in a statement. “Flowfold is one such example of how collaboration and innovation will help us navigate the challenges ahead as we address this unprecedented health care crisis together.”

Flowfold is currently fielding inbound requests from hospitals around the country (hospitals that are interested can inquire here). Besides MaineHeath, Northern Lights (formerly Mercy) has also put in an order, “so we feel good about getting our community hospitals taken care of,” James Morin, Flowfold’s COO, told Maine Startups Insider.

With an unknowable timeline for addressing COVID-19, Flowfold will manufacture face shields indefinitely.

“We will produce as many shields as are needed for as long as is needed,” Morin said.

Flowfold has also taken steps to make sure its manufacturing space is safe and its employees can produce the face shields in a low-risk manner. Sewing machines have been moved at least six feet apart; new, intensive cleaning schedules are in place to make sure the factory is kept decontaminated; and the doors are effectively locked to keep the workspace as sterile as possible, the company said.

Flowfold is also encouraging other local manufactures to help where they can and is offering to support any manufacturers who might also be able to allocate resources. Manufacturers interested in taking Flowfold up on the offer can begin the process here.