Subsalve USA LLC

THE STORY: For close to 40 years, Subsalve USA LLC has worked to keep people and vessels above water. The North Kingstown-based manufacturer specializes in making underwater lift bags for recreational, commercial and military purposes to help with various water recovery and construction efforts. But, the company now is making products to help protect people from COVID-19.


› The hood is used by respiratory doctors and technicians in hospitals, and doctors teaching in medical schools and medical clinics in various countries.

› The hood is made by cutting raw material, then welding and thermal bonding of the neck seal and clear vinyl body to the vinyl top and inlet ports. The process includes rotary welding the body to the neck seal base.

› Approximately 400 units are made each day by Subsalve’s production staff and 30,000 have been manufactured and sold worldwide from late April 2020 through late September 2020.

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› Each hood costs $135.

› Subsalve has 20 employees.

› Since manufacturers were considered essential operations – and also given the product the company was producing – Subsalve never shut down as the pandemic took hold of the state in the spring of 2020.


COVID-BORN: Subsalve is producing an oxygen-treatment hood, first developed in late April 2020. It was given emergency authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of COVID-19.