RICHLAND HILLS -
At Prestige Ameritech, machines make surgical masks 24 hours a day, alongside 200 employees. But the Richland Hills company says even as the largest domestic manufacturer of surgical masks, it and other companies can't keep up with current demand. President Dan Reese says,"This is critical for America and right now we're suffering a shortage."
Reese and his partner Mike Bowen hope a 220,000 square foot building in neighboring North Richland Hills will eventually change that. Prestige Ameritech plans to move the manufacturing operation there by January. They also hope to return the U.S. and North Texas to their rightful place as the top producer of the country's surgical masks. Executive V.P. Mike Bowen says, "About 90 percent of America's have been out sourced to countries like Mexico and China, so during a pandemic we are reliant on the mercy of China and the stability of Mexico and we think in a global pandemic that's not a good place to be."
The partners say it is a dream come true to be back in the building where Kimberly Clark used to manufacture surgical masks until the facility closed in 2006. It is also the building where the men met and worked together for years. They say adding to the dream is the expectation they will employ 1000 people in the next 5 years. It's the opportunity to bring manufacturing back instead of seeing it disappear. President Dan Reese says, "I've watched it start from the textile industry that's went away. The next thing you know it's colored televisions and then it's computers to where the US is a manufacturer of agricultural products and that's what we do a lot of. There's some things you can't let go."
Prestige Ameritech also plans to expand into the manufacture of respirators and more heavily into the manufacture of components for other medical products.
Reese and his partner Mike Bowen hope a 220,000 square foot building in neighboring North Richland Hills will eventually change that. Prestige Ameritech plans to move the manufacturing operation there by January. They also hope to return the U.S. and North Texas to their rightful place as the top producer of the country's surgical masks. Executive V.P. Mike Bowen says, "About 90 percent of America's have been out sourced to countries like Mexico and China, so during a pandemic we are reliant on the mercy of China and the stability of Mexico and we think in a global pandemic that's not a good place to be."
The partners say it is a dream come true to be back in the building where Kimberly Clark used to manufacture surgical masks until the facility closed in 2006. It is also the building where the men met and worked together for years. They say adding to the dream is the expectation they will employ 1000 people in the next 5 years. It's the opportunity to bring manufacturing back instead of seeing it disappear. President Dan Reese says, "I've watched it start from the textile industry that's went away. The next thing you know it's colored televisions and then it's computers to where the US is a manufacturer of agricultural products and that's what we do a lot of. There's some things you can't let go."
Prestige Ameritech also plans to expand into the manufacture of respirators and more heavily into the manufacture of components for other medical products.
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