Nashville-based manufacturer and licensing group Southerland has produced and shipped its first four truckloads of medical-grade mattresses for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. The state agency is purchasing the beds for use in pop-up and field hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Southerland is sewing an order of 5,000 pillow covers for PureCare in Phoenix, which is domestically producing pillows for healthcare facilities in partnership with Brighi Tech Innovation.
Southerland’s Nashville plant is making the beds, with 100 employees working staggered shifts to keep up with demand. The producer’s trucking company Southerland Transport delivers the mattresses to where they are needed. Forty employees at Southerland’s Phoenix facility are sewing the pillow textiles.
“We find ourselves in unprecedented times with this medical crisis and (are) eager to use the talent and resources of our organization to help fulfill the dire need of our emergency management organizations,” said Bryan Smith, Southerland president and chief executive officer. “With our strategically placed manufacturing facilities, we are able to supply and deliver the mattresses efficiently to where they are most needed.”
The foam medical mattresses have a liquid-proof polyester cover with an antimicrobial and antifungal finish that can be wiped clean and sanitized.
Please note: ISPA wants to hear about challenges and successes in supplying critical equipment needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you encounter government regulatory problems where we might be able to help, or if you have ideas on how ISPA can further assist the industry in its efforts to help, contact Grant Johnson, ISPA policy and government affairs, phone 571-635-6302, email [email protected]. Find more information: ISPA COVID-19 Member Resources page
