Shifting Operations to Aid in the Fight Against COVID-19

 

On this episode of the MarketScale podcast, host Tyler Kern was joined by ModTruss Vice President, Worldwide Sales David Ostmann.

ModTruss typically centers its operations on providing strong, durable metal building kits that see use in a variety of industries and applications.

However, as is the case for many companies, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted that focus, and ModTruss is doing what it can to support the frontline effort in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

“We’re in this together,” Ostmann said. “It’s going to take all of us working together to beat this and get our ‘normal’ back.”

To that end, CEO Patrick Santini, an Army field medic with an extensive engineering background, leapt into action.

Working with his wife, an ER physician, Santini developed a negative pressure containment unit.

“Really, within about four days, we went from an idea to a working prototype for our negative pressure (containment unit), or what they call an airborne infectious isolation room,” Ostmann said. “Furthermore, we repurposed our entertainment plastic panels … to introduce those as hard-barrier, bedside applications.”

These barriers are particularly useful for replacing inadequate pipe-and-drape separation methods and allowing for increased safety for patients and healthcare professionals, alike.

Looking ahead, Ostmann said added efficiencies and innovations could help develop the “new normal” the world will enter in the wake of COVID-19.

One such solution is already available in the form of LED screens that could be adapted to meet new needs highlighted by the pandemic.

“One of our partners in the entertainment world is Absen (America). They make beautiful LED panels,” Ostmann said. “Well, maybe they can repurpose their solutions into our COVID solution centers, where we’re not using our valuable resources – our people – to direct traffic. Maybe there’s signage that way that can direct traffic. … It’s looking at your solution from a different aspect.”

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