By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When the coronavirus pandemic shut down businesses, one area manufacturer decided to not idle its lines while the region struggled to fight against COVID-19.
Magna Visual, in Perrysburg Township, ceased the production of magnetic dry-erase boards and retooled its equipment to make mass quantities of plastic face shields for hospitals.
“At times like this, you feel helpless. So it feels good to help out at our local company,” said Zach Stechschulte, the national sales manager for Magna Visual.
Stechschulte, who grew up in Bowling Green and now lives in Maumee, came up with the idea to retool the plant after seeing a Facebook post from a Detroit company that stepped up to produce face shields for hospitals.
“We have similar technology,” Stechschulte said. “I realized we could do the same thing.”
“We have a piece of equipment that allows us to cut out face shields,” he said.
When Stechschulte presented the idea, it quickly took shape.
“We have a couple engineers who are very gifted,” he said. “It’s something we knew we could do really well.”
Within 24 hours, the company sent the first samples to area hospitals to make sure they fit the need.
Now Magna Visual – with eight to 10 employees – is making about 1,000 face shields a day. The company buys big flat sheets of plastic from a Maumee company.
“When it leaves here, it’s shipped directly to hospitals,” Stechschulte said.
For nearly a week now, the masks have been going to Mercy, ProMedica and UTMC, along with some area doctor and dentist offices.
“Once we feel the local community is adequately supplied, then we’ll reach out to other areas,” he said.
Currently, Magna Visual is focused solely on the production of face shields.
“We’ve suspended all non-essential activities,” Stechschulte said. “It’s been a pretty consuming project.”
