A local company has switched its production of signs and trade show displays to create face shields for health care workers and other people working with the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sleek Signs began making these face shields last week, and they have quickly ramped up production since. With a growing need for personal protective equipment across the globe, they decided to design, produce and sell the shields they call Second Barrier.

“It’s what we had to do to keep our business running and try to help out in this crisis,” stated Brad Hertz, president and co-founder of Sleek Signs, in a news release.

When we spoke to Hertz, he said when the pandemic hit, they had to lay off all 32 of their employees, including their CEO.

But Second Barrier has given them a second wind since they have been able to bring back some of their workers to help make the face shields.

“We’re bringing people back in waves. We’re up and functional, people are in the building 24/7,” he explained. “I don’t know an exact number of people, but there’s more people working now than there were 10 days ago.”

When they decided to switch their focus and began the design phase, Hertz said they wanted to create a second barrier between any potential virus contamination and the existing PPE.

The product is meant to be worn over items such as cloth face masks and glasses, acting as an additional layer.

He mentioned that they have also received Health Canada level one certification as a medical device product, meaning they can manufacture, distribute and sell the product with Health Canada’s stamp of approval.

Hertz said they have had requests from across North America.

“We had a purchase order from the city of Boston that we shipped [Wednesday] and they ordered 5,000 units from us.”

Sleek Signs has sent over 10,000 units across the continent.