Metalmite in Rochester Now Supplying Needed Safety Equipment to Protect Workers from COVID-19

Metalmite Corporation has proudly collaborated with a local manufacturer to help keep first responders safe. They now offer Replaceable Filter Media Cartridges for use with 3M style Bayonet Connection Respirators.

Illustration of a face mask and the three section filter replacement

Metalmite in Rochester Now Supplying Needed Safety Equipment to Protect Workers from COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the economy shut, Metalmite – deemed an essential business – kept working. They manufacture, modify, and repair prototype and production parts for clients, including the U.S. Government. Metalmite, located in Downtown Rochester, is a full-service Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine shop.

The need for more Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) was growing daily. Tom Gendich, President of Metalmite, collaborated with A Squared out of West Bloomfield to manufacture the needed replacement filters. Metalmite will be the distributor of the PPE replacement cartridges and samples are being sent to area hospitals and medical facilities, including McLaren, Ascension, and the University of Michigan. Tom Gendich is a second-generation Rochester business owner and he took over Metalmite from his father Michael Gendich in 2010.

“For over 52 years, the Gendich family has been located in Downtown Rochester and has supported the community in multiple ways,” said Tom Gendich, President, Metalmite Corporation. “My father was friends with almost every community leader in the area and always put the needs of the DPW, Fire, and Police at the highest priority. I intend to keep up his legacy and we will support our neighbors in every way we know how.”

PPE Needs Bring Community Together

A plastic triangle-shaped face mask with large rectangular filters on each side.

Metalmite in Rochester Now Supplying Needed Safety Equipment to Protect Workers from COVID-19

It all started when Metalmite helped a local first responder, whose brother designed the first unit to help his sister, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Star Ambulance. When his sister was exposed in the first week of the pandemic, by transporting a COVID-19 patient, Nathan Pace started brainstorming ways to help protect her. Nathan heard that the 3M style mask bodies were available, but that 3M had run out of stock of the replaceable filter cartridges. He sketched out a design and found a way to use coffee filter paper to place inside the new cartridges. He put out a call to the community for anyone who had 3D printing capabilities. Nathan’s father, Gary Pace, posted the request on Nextdoor.com and Tom’s wife, Ann Gendich, saw it. Ann sent Tom a screenshot with details of the online request, and told her husband they needed to help. Tom got a hold of the Pace family that day and offered his assistance. After the team at Metalmite made some changes to strengthen the design, they printed 25 sets for the whole team at Star Ambulance to use.

Virus Protection Goes Viral

Upon posting something about it on social media, a few customers contacted Metalmite and asked how to get a larger quantity, such as in the thousands. With inquiries from hospitals, military, and others, Metalmite collaborated with A Squared to make the design even more production ready. Purchasing molds and finding the N95 filter material, they now offer orders to local hospitals, military and even the public. With 95 to 99 percent filtration, users of these masks will quickly see how much more efficient they are over the fabric or cloth style masks.

Several colors in a circle pattern

They come in a variety of colors and are suitable to hospital-grade sterilization methods.

The cartridges are designed to be compatible for use with a wide variety of filter media including N95, HEPA, and 4-ply microfiber cloth. The filter media is easily replaceable, and molded in the USA in a facility with a wide range of FDA approvals. The large filter surface minimizes breathing restriction and is fashioned from vacuum bag material, the same stuff as the Kirby Micron Magic HEPA FilterPlus uses. They come in a variety of colors and are suitable to hospital-grade sterilization methods.

About Metalmite

As a full-service machine shop located in Rochester, Michigan, they manufacture, modify, and repair prototype and production parts for a wide variety of clients. For over 52 years, they’ve pursued manufacturing perfection with a precise mix of quality, service, delivery, and price. This winning combination has earned them certification as a Prime Contractor for the United States Government, as well as a trusted supplier in other industries. They use 3, 4, 5, and 6 axis CNC machining to keep them on the cutting edge of the market. With in-house Wire EDM, CNC grinding and now 3D Printing, they are able to offer full service completion of projects. They are a true single-source vendor and one stop shop. Visit their website at www.Metalmite.com, call 248-651-9415, or email sales@metalmite.com.

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Rochester Media publishes The Community Edge digital newsletter of recently posted articles from Rochester Media, a hyper-local news outlet covering all things in and around Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township. Send us you press releases and news happenings to editor@rochestermedia.com.

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