16 April 2020:In an effort to step-up the fight against COVID-19, Duncan Aviation Upholstery Team along with 300 volunteers from local churches, fabric stores and hobby groups in the communities Duncan Aviation calls home have begun sewing masks.
The company has also cut and begun sewing hundreds of medical gowns for area health facilities.
"This all started with a team of employees who recognized a problem and had the means and desire to solve it," said Aaron Hilkemann, President and CEO of Duncan Aviation. "It is indicative of the creativity, compassion and initiative found in our team members. And we are happy to help our communities in this manner. We feel it is the least we can do and appreciate the opportunity to show our concern and gratitude to those working on the front lines of this pandemic."
As the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and the supply of masks depleted, Duncan Aviation took it upon them to sew the much-required masks for their employees and the community.
Duncan Aviation's interior and upholstery teams reached out to a local hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, and asked for help in designing a mask.
The hospital shared specifics and two different mask templates were created. Using the hospital's instructions, Duncan Aviation digitized the designs for cutting with its automated fabric-cutting machine, which usually cuts leather, sheepskin and other durable materials for use in business aircraft. Depending on the width of the material used for the masks, Duncan Aviation can cut materials for up to 900 masks every hour. To date, the company has cut more than 15,000 masks.
This work is undertaken in Duncan Aviation's full-service facilities in Lincoln, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Provo, Utah.