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V O L . X X V I N O. V I I A P R I L 6 , 2 0 2 0 8 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E We specialize in helping Maine and New Hampshire businesses grow, with loans of all types, generated through our local credit union partners. And because we're not a bank, we're able to offer better terms and greater flexibility. Our streamlined process will get you the money you need in a timely way. Whether you're looking to borrow $50,000 or $20,000,000, come in and talk to us first. Are you tired of working with virtual lenders? EQUIPMENT LOANS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LOANS BUSINESS EXPANSION LOANS 866.736.2804 | mainebls.com Hello? Our local lending team is focused on you. Back Row L to R: Russ Cole - CEO and President, Will Hatt - Senior VP and COO, Rebecca Walker - Senior Lending Assistant, Wendy Luce - Commercial Lending Assistant, Kristie Dunn - Senior Credit Analyst, Melissa Simpson - Risk and Compliance Officer, Adam Levine - Credit Analyst, Glen Carter - Credit Analyst, Front Row L to R: Christy Davalli - VP Commercial Lending, Dave McElwain - Senior Lender, Don Smith - AVP Commercial Lending, Al Moroney - VP Commercial Lending Manufacturers retool to meet 'essential' COVID-19 demands B y r e n e e c o r d e s G O R H A M — As one niche Maine textile manufacturer ramps up production of personal protective equipment for health care workers, another is keen to do the same after being forced to lay off 80% of employ- ees this week. In less than two weeks, Gorham- based Flowfold switched from making outdoor and lifestyle bags, packs and accessories to producing protective face shields for hospitals and health facilities in need. Its first shipment, of 1,000 face shields, went to Por tland-based MaineHealth, northern New England's largest health system and Maine's largest private employer. In Westbrook, apparel and blanket maker American Roots is also looking to see what kind of personal protec- tive equipment it can make to help in the crisis — and get employees back to work. "We're racing against the clock to retool our factory, so that we can help the state of Maine and the broader community, and the country," said Ben Waxman, who founded American Roots in 2015 with his wife, Whitney Reynolds. Operating out of the Dana Warp Mill building, they currently employ a "bare minimum" of four sewers but hope to get busy again soon as they explore options for making needed protective equipment. And at Brunswick Landing, STARC Systems, a maker of "containment walls" used in hospital renovations, adapted its manufacturing line to produce "isola- tion rooms" that can be used in hospitals and other health care sites. STARC has 45 employees, but expects to add more people. Even before the public health crisis, STARC Systems had planned to move into larger manufacturing space — 50,000 square feet, not far from its current site, also in Brunswick Landing. By pivoting to provide needed goods the manufacturers also became "essen- tial" businesses, allowing them to keep their doors open — albeit with additional social distancing and sanitary precautions to protect their employees' health. Flowfold's quick pivot At Flowfold's factory in Gorham, a team of eight — wearing gloves and other protec- tion — are making face shields for health care workers on the front lines of the crisis. The startup made a quick pivot, with about eight days between its first email to MaineHealth to the first production run. "That email was basically, 'We're going to have some capacity here to help, what do you need right now?" James Morin, Flowfold's chief operating officer and president of sales, told Mainebiz. "They came back with a catalog link, and said, 'We need everything,'" Morin said. Though Flowfold didn't have the capacity to make everything — not in a meaningful way, and not fast enough — it determined it could make face shields that look similar to masks worn by welders and got to work on the first 1,000. The company, founded in 2010, expects to stay busy with another 3,000 units on order for other customers — Northern Light Health, Maine's second- largest health care system, and two groups in Texas. B R I E F C O U R T E S Y / F L OW F O L D A A Flowfold Flowfold worker, wearing a worker, wearing a protective face shield like the protective face shield like the ones the company is making ones the company is making for health care workers, is also for health care workers, is also wearing gloves for protection. wearing gloves for protection.

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