Here’s why 3M’s promise to produce more masks is a joke

Here’s why 3M’s promise to produce more masks is a joke - Nine Line Apparel

A crucial side-battle is emerging in the nation’s fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic: the U.S. government versus 3M, the largest supplier of N95 respirator masks, needed by healthcare professionals and first responders to keep them safe in the line of duty.

Personal protective equipment (PPEs) can quite literally be a matter of life and death for those on the frontline battle against the disease, and last week President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act instructing private companies – principally 3M — to prioritize orders from the federal government.

 

There are currently about 21 million Americans who are fighting the coronavirus pandemic on the front lines. This includes an estimated:

16.8 million healthcare workers
2.1 million active-duty service members, National Guard, and reservists
1.1 million firefighters
1.0 million law enforcement professionals

 

As a nation, we need about 300 million of these disposable N95-type masks a month. That’s not an excessive number — it translates to only 14 masks a month for the 21 million Americans on the front lines of the pandemic.

But 3M has pledged to produce only 50 million per month, less than a sixth of what is needed.

After being called out by President Trump, 3M has pledged to produce 50 million masks a month for the U.S.

The Trump administration has also asked 3M to stop exporting masks made in the U.S. to Canada and Latin America and instead leave them here – rather than relying on masks produced in China.

 

In a statement, the company issued its own warning back, saying that keeping what’s made in America, in America, could have dire consequences:

…ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done. If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease.

Hmm. We’ve managed as a nation to make ourselves “energy independent.” Seems like we should be able to make ourselves “PPE independent” too. No?
This is a helluva mess right now. We’re battling a pandemic that appears to have started in China, and the nation (if not the world) now seems to be unable to fight the spread of the pandemic unless we can get masks…from China.

 

At Nine Line, we’ve been banging the drum for American-made for quite some time, and now it’s not just a matter of pride, but a matter of national security.

We’re currently working with engineers, fabric manufacturers, scientists and physicians to design and produce low-cost masks in our own facilities and others across the nation.

We’ve developed a mask with replaceable filters that offers a much more sustainable solution to the one-use N95 masks that are supposed to be disposed of with each use. If widely produced, our mask design could exceed 3M’s production promise and be a better long term solution.

We’re prepared to completely pivot our company to the manufacture of masks until the nation gets through this crisis, but we need the FDA to expedite our emergency request for testing and approval. Until then we will be supplying containment masks, like these here.

The health of our citizens shouldn’t be at the mercy of overseas contracts and governments.

 

In the meantime, while you’re sitting around in your home, afraid to go outdoors, do a little housecleaning. Throw out everything in your house that’s made in China. Kinda scary, isn’t it?

Click to learn more about our sustainable mask solution.

 

11 comments


  • Jenn Stulken

    Wow. Just wow. I am so sorry that you would make these comments that seem to attack another company (3M) just to give yourself a boost in your own endeavor. Poor taste, especially at this critical time we are all facing with this pandemic. To speak like you are experienced in what 3M is doing or not doing is disgraceful. Get the facts. This makes me want to puke. Do you know how many people have been hired, starting back in January, to ramp up production in 3M facilities? Do you realize the kind of hours these people are working each and every week, again since JANUARY, to try and do their very best each and every day? Do you realize the risk these employees, their families, and those they work with are taking? 3M supplies the WORLD with N95 masks, and the pandemic hit like a freight train. Also, we are not the only company that makes these masks. Where are your nasty comments about the other companies? I work for that company that you willingly criticized for your own gain. We are working long, hard hours. We rarely get to see our families because we are working around the clock to get as much production out as we can. All for what? For the people that we know need these masks, for the 21million individuals you just pointed out. We are risking our own lives to get this done. Guess what….the end is not in sight for us. People are calling in sick left and right, even our management have given up their duties and joined us on the lines. So for this, it was nice knowing you. Many employees I work with support your company, I see 9line shirts everywhere, but after I show them this I’m not sure you will be keeping their business. If you want to join the fight, do so, but maybe respectfully? The American way, not the bullshit you just pulled.

    Good luck in your production efforts.


  • Tom BArbarick

    Retired Navy Chief Warrant Officer and I started buying nothing but Made in America many years ago.
    Also ordered some of NineLine masks and looking forward to getting them soon.

    Great products.

    BUY AMERICAN!!!


  • TIm

    Thanks for all you are doing. Covering our 6!!!!!


  • Doug Collis

    The ‘only’ reason we are the nation we are, is solely due to the efforts of patriots such as those that fill the halls of Nine Line. Your service to country did not end with a release from active military duty but, continues as you enrich the citizens of our republic, through your tireless efforts to produce to the needs of those you serve. As a proud owner of dozens of Nine Line tees, I offer my deepest respect, admiration and gratitude. OSCS retired.


  • Chuck

    I see you’ve almost doubled the price of your daily face covers.


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