For two weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Rhode Island, the phone stopped ringing at Kinder Industries Inc. in Bristol. The manufacturer of marine canvas products, including seat and boat covers, had enough back orders to stay busy for a while.
But after a few weeks, Philip Kinder, the president and owner, said he realized a new game plan was in order.
At the time, hospitals and health providers in New England were desperate for protective equipment for employees. And he had a clear polyester film on hand, and a network of suppliers. He knew his crew of 11 people could make face shields.
He called the R.I. Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Then he called the COVID-19 hotline, which patched him through to Lifespan Corp.
Soon, the marine manufacturer was making face shields for doctors, nurses and health care workers at congregant care settings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Eventually, face shields would be distributed to Lifespan, as well as Southcoast Health System, South County Health, Eleanor Slater Hospital and about 100 group rehabilitative homes in Massachusetts.
But to get to that kind of production, a little luck and a friendly neighbor helped.
Just as Kinder Industries was coming up with prices for Lifespan, there was a feeding frenzy on the polyester film for the shields. Kinder’s regular suppliers were tapped out. One of his regular customers, a local businessman, learned Kinder was outfitting health care workers and offered to front the cost of a new source of supply. Kinder found a new supplier in an Alabama mill, where the owner called some people and got it transported to Rhode Island.
The material came in odd lengths and widths, but in sufficient amounts for Kinder Industries to start pumping out face shields by the thousands.
“We did it for a total of 10 weeks straight,” Kinder said. The workload was so heavy, he contracted with a friendly competitor, Thurston Sails Inc., whose owner put all of his employees on it.
By April, the hospitals had increasing needs for face masks. So Kinder sourced those materials and started making masks as well. The company is now selling face masks on its website, directly to the public and businesses at individual and wholesale prices.
Each face mask costs less than $10 and is using some of the same polypropylene found in N95 masks. The outer layer of the mask is made by a manufacturer who also makes paper towels.
Kinder has sold about 30,000 of them. Commercial customers include Berkshire Gas Co. and Rust-Oleum Paint.
“We’re trying to keep it affordable,” Kinder said. “I’m not trying to gouge people. I’m not trying to get rich. I should increase my prices, but I’m not going to.”
For the foreseeable future, face masks and shields will be among Kinder Industries’ top products. Before the pandemic, about a third of its sales were in boat covers, a third in cushions and seat covers, and another third in custom canvas products.
The switch to health care products, and the ramp up in demand, meant that all of its employees remained on the job. Kinder said that overall sales are running about the same as last year but with a totally different product mix.
OWNERS: Philip and Blair Kinder
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Manufacturer of marine and architectural canvas
ADDRESS: 75 Tupelo St., Bristol
EMPLOYEES: 11
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1996
ANNUAL SALES: $1 million
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.
