Global textile manufacturer Milliken & Company said it is leveraging its materials science expertise to manufacture much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for the healthcare industry amid the current COVID-19 global pandemic. 

Milliken’s new advanced medical fabrics and barriers are available and complement Milliken’s  BioSmartTM antimicrobial technology used in scrubs, lab coats and hospital privacy curtains, harnessing the power of bleach to kill up to 99.9 percent of common bacteria on contact, company officials said.

Spartanburg-based Milliken also said it is manufacturing critical barrier protection fabrics to be used in gowns and headcovers for healthcare professionals. 

Further, Milliken said it is researching and developing materials for incorporation into N95-grade masks. The new innovations complement existing products that can be used for temporary shelters in situations where it’s deemed necessary to set up transitory field hospitals, company officials said.

“We have focused our development and manufacturing processes to help fight the battle against COVID-19,” said Halsey M. Cook, Milliken & Company president and CEO. “We began by engineering our existing textiles into medical-grade fabrics for PPE, and we will continue to seek critical solutions as we navigate this uncharted territory as a company, a nation and a world.”

The new advanced medical textiles and barriers are made in the USA, company officials said.

Categorized into Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3, Milliken’s advanced medical fabrics and barriers tested to the ANSI/AAMI PB70 Standard and suit multiple medical environments and usage situations, the officials said.

Specifically:

• Level 1 Medical Textile, Milliken PerimeterTM : Suitable for minimal risk situations, including basic care settings and standard hospital medical units, this gown textile provides a slight barrier to small amounts of fluid penetration. Tested to the ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard.
• Level 2 Medical Textile, Milliken PerimeterTM : Designed for low risk situations, including suturing and the pathology lab, this gown textile provides a barrier to larger amounts of fluid penetration through splatter and some fluid exposure through soaking. Tested to the ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard.
• Level 3 Medical Barrier, Milliken PerimeterTM : Designed for moderate risk situations, including hospital emergency rooms and trauma care, this PPE gown textile provides a barrier against larger amounts of fluid penetration through splatter, and more fluid exposure through soaking than Level 2. Tested to the ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard.