Herman Miller reopens to make masks and mattress covers
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ZEELAND, Mich. - After closing all West Michigan facilities March 23 due to a state-wide non-essential stay-at-home order, office furniture leader Herman Miller is back.
 
The company announced March 30 that it is reconfiguring facilities to manufacture healthcare products, including face masks and mattress covers.
 
"Since then (March 23), our clients and customers in the health care industry and government have asked for support during this difficult and unprecedented time," reads a statement.
 
The company will allow 30 percent of its regional workforce to return to work, but only on a voluntary basis. The only production will be that of healthcare products. 
 
To maintain safety, employees must remain at least six feet from each other at all times. A 30-minute window between shifts will allow for equipment cleaning.
 
Regular operations will remain closed until April 13, at the earliest.
 
Herman Miller, the third largest company on the FDMC 300 list of North American woodworking companies, employs around 4,000 in West Michigan. It had an estimated $2.567 billion in sales for 2019. The company runs 10 manufacturing plants throughout North America and the world, and employs 7,600 workers in total.
 
Check out other woodworking industry disruptions and cancellations here.

 

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Robert Dalheim

Robert Dalheim is an editor at the Woodworking Network. Along with publishing online news articles, he writes feature stories for the FDMC print publication. He can be reached at [email protected].