NEW: Dayton manufacturer makes face shields for Premier Health

BarSplice Products, Inc., a Dayton manufacturer, is making and donating face shields to Premier Health, the region’s largest hospital system.

The Webster Street company’s purchasing department said it rapidly sourced plastic sheets, while its engineering team began making attachable headbands with a bank of 3-D printers normally used for concrete accessories, the business said in a recent news release.

“The team is now assembling shields at their facility, with donations to Miami Valley Hospital planned at least once per week,” BarSplice said in its release. “They expect to be able to produce about 20 to 30 shields per day.”

This is one of many examples of Dayton companies shifting gears to make newly necessary products during the COVID-19 pandemic. An offshoot of a Beavercreek R&D defense company, MRL Medical, is also making face shields. 

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Premier Health has been using shields in conjunction with standard masks to provide an extra layer of protection for frontline medical workers, the company said.

“Thanks to technology and fast action by everyone involved, we were able to reach full production in just one day,” said Jacob Marino, a BarSplice engineer. “My call with Premier took place around 9 a.m., and by 3 p.m., the parts were tested and validated, the plastic sheets were ordered, and the printers were producing at full capacity.”

BarSplice is owned by Harrison Twp.-based FC Industries, a family-owned business founded by Frank and Lila Casella. Besides BarSplice, the parent company also owns Dayton Precision Aerospace Inc., AFC Tool Co. Inc. and AFC Stamping & Production.

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