Swine flu fears fuel mask orders for Grandville medical supply company by The Grand Rapids Press Monday April 27, 2009, 4:03 PM http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/04/swine_flu_fears_fuel_one_milli.html Correction: O'Mara Scientific Corp.has had only about 100,000 masks ordered Rex Larsen | The Grand Rapids PressCraig Sobczak, president of O'Mara Scientific in Grandville, demonstrates the use of the particulate respirator and nitrile gloves his company has been selling in large quantities. since a swine flu outbreak in Mexico.
GRANDVILLE -- Orders for surgical masks flooded O'Mara Scientific Corp., a medical supply company in Grandville, as cases of swine flu began to stack up across the U.S. this past weekend.
"We have orders for more than $100,000 of surgical masks or (N95) respirators," CEO and President Craig Sobczak said Monday.
With more than one million masks in stock or on order with the manufacturer, Sobczak isn't worried about keeping up with skyrocketing demand.
His company distributes the $1 protective masks recommended by governments to stem the spread of many airborne diseases. Also selling briskly are protective suits and non-latex nitrile gloves.
Six years ago, the rush on masks was spurred by the SARS virus. Back then, most of the orders came from Asia. His biggest shipment was a half-million masks sent to the Hong Kong Ministry of Health for distribution to the public.
This time around, many of his orders are domestic.
While not mentioning names, Sobczak says he is filling orders for the world's largest pharmaceutical company, the second- and third-largest contract research organization and emergency planning organizations in the state.
"We are pretty well prepared," Sobczak said. "We have a three-month inventory."
That positions Sobczak well because 3M, the manufacturer of the masks, is back-ordered until mid-May, he said
The St. Paul, Minnesota-based manufacturer found itself in a similar position during the SARS outbreak, Sobczak said.
Some companies are raising their prices in response to the surge in demand.
"We are not selling these for a penny more than we did before," Sobczak said. "The bottom line is serving our customer base."
The 11-year-old, privately-owned company, previously known as O'Mara Products, employs 22 here in Grandville and one worker at a distribution center in Connecticut.
Midwest Safety Products also is getting inundated with e-mails and calls from wholesalers in Mexico and South America looking for masks.
The Kentwood firm is hearing from safety directors at large U.S. companies, too, but not with the same urgency, said Vanh Miller, company president.
Companies across the country have begun implementing emergency-preparedness plans.
Perrigo Co. has supplied 400 employees at its central Mexico plant in Saltilla with masks and flu vaccinations. The Allegan-based drug company also has called off employee travel to Mexico until further notice.
"Mexico has done a very good job of getting information to us," said Art Shannon, company spokesman.
Steelcase Inc. is monitoring the situation, said spokeswoman Jeanine Holquist. The Grand Rapids office furniture-maker has a manufacturing facility in Tijuana and a sales office in Mexico City.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
