Bradenton company has shipped 70,000 protective masks to fight COVID-19. It wants to make a lot more
Three weeks ago, Tyton Design and Development of Bradenton was making wheelchair accessories.
That was before the company converted its operation to producing masks, face shields and gowns.
To date, it has shipped more than 70,000 masks and is looking to ramp up production.
Tyton can now produce about 20,000 masks a day, but owner Ty Salvatore, 47, said he could produce even more if he had more people who knew how to sew.
He is looking to hire more than 100 people for his 24-hour operation, and pointed to rolls of fabric in his production facility at 2309 60th Drive E., that could be turned into a half million masks. He now has a staff of 34 working in shifts around the clock. He has also ordered 20 more machines to help keep up with the demand.
Salvatore, a native of Brooklyn, opened his business 2 1/2 years ago.
News of the growing coronavirus pandemic kept him awake at night.
“Three Fridays ago, I woke up and said we need to do something,” he said.
It was the same kind of epiphany that managers of Motorworks Brewing and Loaded Cannon Distillery had that prompted them to start making another short-supply item, hand sanitizer.
“Initially, we had some requests from local people asking whether we carried masks and if we could do masks. We saw there was definitely a need. We pulled together our design team and made our first prototype three weeks ago. Here we, are a full-pledged personal protective equipment provider for our community and our state,” Salvatore said.
“The masks are only going to facilities, our health care workers, our first responders, people who need to keep up with the community. We have a couple of retailers in place, Suncoast Medical Equipment and Arden’s. They are our two retailers and you can purchase from them if you are an individual. But if you are a facility you can order from us,” he said.
The company is making two-ply masks that accepts a charcoal filter, as well as single-ply masks. The masks are being made to Centers for Disease Control and Agency for Health Care Administration specifications, Salvatore said.
For more information about Tyton’s masks, or job opportunities visit https://wehavemasks.com or call 941-713-0115.
Supplies offered by Suncoast Medical are listed at https://www.suncoastmedicalsupply.com. Suncoast has a Bradenton store at 1145 53rd Ave. W.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 4:25 PM.
