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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Johns Manville Producing Medical Gown Fabric at Spartanburg, South Carolina, Plant

05/21/2020
Johns Manville started production to make nonwoven fabric at its facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The material will be used for manufacturing of urgently needed disposable medical gowns used in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

“There is a desperate need in North America and in Europe for medical gowns,” said John Vasuta, President of Johns Manville’s Engineered Products business. “Our teams are working quickly to create solutions and manufacture a new coated polyester spunbond nonwoven fabric. We are going through unprecedented times, so every step to support health care workers and others on the front lines helps right now.”

This is the second move by Johns Manville to quickly develop and launch a product that can improve the safety of people in potential direct contact with the COVID-19 virus. In April, production started in Richland, Mississippi, of nonwoven media for the manufacturing of face masks.

“Given the urgent need for action,” Vasuta said, “we quickly decided to build on our own capabilities and develop a coated product to supply the domestic medical gown manufacturing industry.”

The new polyester spunbond nonwoven is designed for the production of Level 3 medical gowns. “The fabric offers superior liquid barrier performance compared to materials used for Level 1 and Level 2 medical gowns, while also providing comfort and stitch-strength,” said Souvik Nandi, Director Nonwovens Technology at Johns Manville Engineered Products.

The JM plant in Spartanburg employs 100 people and produces a variety of polyester nonwoven products for the use in mainly filtration, roofing and specialty applications using JM’s proprietary spunbond technology. Johns Manville operates a multitude of polyester spunbond lines across the globe with a distinct customer and market focus.

A Berkshire Hathaway company, Johns Manville is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales over $3 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs 8,000 people and operates 46 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.

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