Before the pandemic hit in March of 2020, the U.S. was buying around 50 million N95 masks per year. Fast forward to the onset of the COVID-19 crisis and it’s no surprise that the nation’s consumption of N95 masks increased significantly. During a 90-day peak-use period, demand for those masks jumped to a record 140 million. As the pandemic continues, …
At the start of a new mill or plant, the maintenance department is often the most burdened in the process. They’re tasked with ensuring that all equipment is running smoothly and safely, and that costs are kept low. But because equipment is often brand new and hasn’t been used yet, maintenance crews may have little training or preparedness for what …
During the COVID-19 pandemic, single-use plastic has become more important than ever. It not only makes up a large part of the medical equipment hospitals use, it also helps protect doctors, nurses, medical staff, and patients. From ventilators to IV bags, to gloves, masks, and hospital gowns, single-use plastic products can be the difference between life and death for many. …
COVID-19 has proved to be a pivotal moment for all manufacturers across the world and industries everywhere have had to adapt to evolving customer expectations. For the aluminum industry in particular, an emphasis on ESG performance has pushed the industry into a new growth phase. Customers are demanding responsibly sourced steel that has minimal impact on the environment, and because …
The last several years have shown a progressive shift to aluminum cans as the preferred packaging for beverages, from beer to seltzer to kombucha. In 2020, likely due to the pandemic and the necessity for off-premise beverage sales, this shift has turned into a spike manufacturers can’t keep up with. Demand is surpassing supply at a record pace, and can …