Everson company switches gears to make cots in fight against coronavirus pandemic
An Everson manufacturer is joining the list of Whatcom companies finding ways to help during the coronavirus pandemic.
Christensen Net Works has begun retooling its facility to make 200 cots a day. The plan is to distribute those temporary hospital beds to medical facilities locally in Whatcom County and hard-hit areas of the U.S. such as New York and California, said Brian Davidson, CEO of the company. The 35-employee company makes net products for aquaculture and sports, including netting for baseball, golf and gyms.
On Wednesday, April 1, the company solicited the help of about 30 volunteers to cut templates from vinyl sheets. As the templates are returned, Christensen Net Works will use its materials to sew the cots together.
Christensen is one of several Whatcom companies making or providing equipment for the medical industry. On Tuesday, March 31, Superfeet announced it was making 30,000 masks. In a Facebook post, Petrogas Ferndale Terminal announced it has provided more than 1,000 protective suits and 12,000 gloves to Whatcom Unified Command, with 1,522 masks on the way.
Davidson said they saw a need early on as shipping delays from China caused some disruption. As he heard reports of hospitals in China being overwhelmed, he began retooling his company in case it began happening in the U.S. He said so far they have had a few firm orders and is vetting a few others. They are focused on supplying non-profit organizations, local and state governments, and those in the medical community.
As the company ramps up production, Davidson said he’s been humbled by the community response.
“We have so many offers we can’t respond to them all. Individuals and local small business owners are making incredible sacrifices,” Davidson said in an email. One example is Northwest Professional Services, a Lynden company that volunteered to disinfect the materials before they are delivered to volunteers to keep those who are helping from inadvertently bringing infectious materials into their homes.
“This is something we are more than happy to contribute to. It’s a way we can fulfill an important need and work to minimize potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus,” said Doug Broersma, owner of Northwest Professional Services.
Davidson said the key to making this work is the help he has received from his employees, who have had to deal with drastic changes at the facility. The company has opened other spaces to better separate employees, had some work from home, staggered break times and used additional protocols to try to avoid spreading the virus.
“I could do very little without my team, people that may work for me, but these are people I consider friends as well,” Davidson said.
Christensen Net Works, founded in the early 1990s, was acquired by Davidson and relocated to Everson in 2007.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Everson company switches gears to make cots in fight against coronavirus pandemic."
