Harnett company Saab stepping up to make medical gowns in midst of coronavirus outbreak

Date Published: May 7, 2020

LILLINGTON — A Cape Fear region facility is stepping up to assist in the production of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak and is adding new employees to get the job done.

Saab Defense & Security USA announced Tuesday the addition of production lines at its Lillington operation to produce nonsurgical gowns. The main focus of the company based in Syracuse, New York, is providing a variety of products and technologies for the United States military and homeland security.

The COVID-19 pandemic found the United States short of personal protection equipment for medical personnel and other front-line workers. Like many companies around the nation, Saab officials were compelled to find some way to assist in eliminating those shortages. Because the Lillington facility was already heavily involved in working with technical textiles and materials, it became a logical location to produce the variety of nonsurgical gowns that have been in short supply.

“It fits within our core mission, which is survivability,” said Fayetteville native Bill Easterling, Saab’s vice president for manufacturing and product development. “That’s what we’ve been doing for the last 21 years here in Lillington, serving the war fighter. Many of our healthcare workers are on the same kind of front line.

Original Article Source: The Fayetteville Observer