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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

SA-SO Signs and Safety Creates Specialty Face Shields at Arlington, Texas, Plant

04/06/2020
SA-SO signs and safety, a manufacturer of traffic, safety and facility products, designed a one-size-fits-all plastic face shield that easily clips to the brim of a baseball cap, with either standard paper clips or binder clips, at its manufacturing complex in Arlington, Texas.

The company’s primary focus is making LED Flashing Signs, Beacons, RRFB’s, Radar Feedback signs, and Illuminated Street Signs.

“We weren’t sure what we would be asked to make, but very quickly we got a couple of requests for face shields.” said company president Joe Nussbaum, “The production process wasn’t that different from some of the tags we make.”

The shield wasn’t the biggest challenge, according to Nussbaum, “The hard part was figuring out how to wear it. Then, looking around our shop, half of our people were wearing baseball caps. It was a no-brainer. Configure a shield to fit on a cap. Everybody has a baseball cap, and they are comfortable to wear.”

As awareness of the PPE shortage grew, the new face shield was made part of SA-SO’s bold promise to manufacture and ship product within 24 hours, company officials said. It was conceptualized, designed, prototyped, and prepared for production on a Friday. Word of the new product spread fast. Shipments began the following Monday. In just two days, SA-SO has shipped over a thousand shields.

“It was crazy-fast, but our people rose to the occasion.” Nussbaum added, “It has been a shot in the arm for morale. People want to be able to do something to help, and this gives our people a chance.”

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