AirBoss perfects half mask for health care field

NEWMARKET, Ontario—AirBoss of America Inc. has received another big boost in the U.S. that will allow the firm's AirBoss Defense Group subsidiary to expand its personal protection product range for the health care sector.

The National Institute for U.S. Occupational Safety and Health recently granted approval of the new AirBoss 100 Half Mask Respirator, which, according to Chris Bitsakakis, president and chief operating officer, was designed and developed by AirBoss with guidance from first responders and health care professionals.

"They were looking for a more effective and more comfortable way to protect themselves from airborne or other viruses," he said.

AirBoss' half mask respirator expands the firm's certified respiratory protection offerings for medical, defense and law enforcement personnel operating in high-risk areas.

Bitsakakis noted that the AirBoss 100 Half Mask is designed to provide filtered particle protection from chemical and biological agents and contaminants at a 99.97-percent level. That compares with the company's existing NIOSH-approved FlexAir powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) system, which he said has the same 99.97-percent protective capabilities but is more cumbersome and expensive.

He said the new AirBoss 100 Half Mask comes at a lower price point, and "it does not require a power pack and fan blower/hood. It is a basic respirator with the protection of a PAPR. It will be easier to wear over extended periods of time versus what many health care professionals are (currently) doing."

Unlike other respiratory products, Bitsakakis said, the new half mask respirator "filters the air coming in to the user, and it filters their exhalation. This is important for first responders—who may unknowingly be contagious—to not infect their patients. It also has an optional clip-on clear eye shield that is extremely important to first responders who are worried about blood splatter."

There is a strong market in the health care niche for a product with the highest level of protection but at a better price point that's easier to use than the full PAPR respirator, which is geared toward infectious disease wards, he said.

On another front, the company said that AirBoss Defense Group has successfully shipped or commenced shipment of all remaining nitrile examination gloves ordered by the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services—Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to be used for the Strategic National Stockpile.

However, the Newcastle-based firm said it anticipates delivery of the order won't be completed in the fourth quarter due to production stoppages in Malaysia related to government lockdowns. These have created a four- to six-week production delay, in addition to global logistics difficulties highlighted by record backlogs at U.S. cargo ports.

Because of the backlog, about $116 million (of the $288 million nitrile glove contract) of sales originally planned to be counted as revenue in the third quarter is now expected to be recorded in the fourth quarter. The change is not likely to affect full year results, the company said.

AirBoss has had numerous concerns about on-time delivery of its products this year but the biggest one currently is the nitrile gloves, Bitsakakis said.

"Our other products and raw materials are also of course a major concern. We have had multiple force majeures this year and significant shipping delays and increased costs," he said.

"We have, however, been able to navigate those challenges through our raw materials redundancy program and our increases in safety stocks. This has kept us in a position to continue to support our customers.

"The gloves were different just because of the sheer size of the order. The number of boats and containers required to ship this number of gloves has been mind boggling. In fact, we are currently the largest nitrile glove importer to the U.S. These large numbers, of course, drive a greater impact from every delay. Despite these delays, we anticipate a full delivery this year."

Bitsakakis also said the company's growth pipeline, which the firm defines as business it currently is bidding on, is at well over $1 billion.

"This is by far the largest pipeline of opportunities we've ever had," he said.