Volume 85, Issue 26 Web Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
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April 1, 2020
Brevard business produces
life-saving masks and more
By Margaret Correll
Layout & Design
Local Brevard business SylvanSport
,has turned from being an outdoor gear
manufacturer to producing face masks and
other personal-protection equipment (PPE)
for medical personnel in the area.
This switch has affected other outdoor
gear companies. According to a March 28
article in the Asheville Citizen-Times, some
other regional factories which have turned
their attention to manufacturing PPE include
Kitsbow Cycling Apparel, Diamond Brand
Gear in Fletcher, Asheville-based Industry
Nine and Tsugo in Boone.
Brevard College alumnus Florian
Peyssonneaux works at SylvanSport as the
Sales and Marketing Coordinator. “It was
an overnight decision,” he said about the
switch to making medical supplies. “We can
be passive and wish people good luck, or we
can take charge and do something about it.”
Before focusing on the need of medical
supplies, SylvanSport made trailers,
backpacks, campers and a wide variety of
outdoor gear. Now, they have fully revamped
their facility and building process to support
the development of face masks, gowns and
face shields. SylvanSport has even been asked
to offer their campers as shelters for those
who are sick.
Tom Dempsey, founder and CEO of
SylvanSport, has been in connection with
many suppliers from the company’s supply
chain across the world. The Citizen- Times
states, “His company has doubled down on
seeking N95 and other approved PPE from
its supply chains in Slovenia, Vietnam, China
and Germany, and said more is on the way.”
According to the Citizen-Times, many
local hospitals and health departments have
reached out to Dempsey and members of
the SylvanSport team to acquire a portion of
the desired PPE. SylvanSport has also been in
correspondence with Dogwood Health Trust
and, according to the Citizen-Times, they will
be using part of this fund to get the supplies out
to the people who need it.
They have been working with their suppliers to
try and push out as many PPE as possible, which
should be ready within the next few weeks.
Their first round of face shields were delivered
on March 30, 2020, and another 10,000 are in
production.
The Citizen-Times also mentions that many
retailers in the area are interested in possible
sneeze guards for their stores to act as a barrier
between customers and cashiers. Dempsey is
sure that SylvanSport can make those as well.
Peyssonneaux and the rest of SylvanSport
hopes that this will be a success story for
SylvanSport and the medical professionals
they are helping. “We have to be flexible
and adapt to the unique conditions,” he said.
Alex Topper, an assembly technician at SylvanSport, assembles a “Disposable Infectious Disease
Control Face Shield” at the company’s manufacturing facility on Ecusta Road in Brevard. For more
information about SylvanSport’s PPE products (and how to order them), visit the company’s website at
https://www.svlvansDort.com/oersonal-Drotection-eauipment-aDe/.