cleaning masks in a mobile 'can'

Columbus, OH

Situation

From the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, America’s frontline healthcare workers needed help. N95 respirator masks were in short supply. To combat the crisis, Battelle—a private nonprofit applied science and technology company—developed a machine capable of cleaning up to 80,000 masks per day. The company partnered with Britten’s BoxPop to build custom shipping containers capable of housing their mobile, decontamination systems.

Solution

Working under the guidance of a Battelle team who personally visited BoxPop HQ in early April, a fabrication team of 20 worked 14-hour days, seven days a week until all containers were finished and shipped to COVID-19 hotspots throughout the country. In total, BoxPop customized and delivered 25 shipping containers in 23 days.

Impact

From the first conversation in April and throughout the manufacturing process, the cooperation and open communication between BoxPop and Battelle’s proved key to the agility and speed necessary to deliver this critical project in record time. “Thanks to the entire Britten/BoxPop team for their exceptional work and support on this program,” says Battelle Research Leader, Mac Melnik. “The systems we received were of extremely high quality, which is a direct reflection of the great people there who were part of making those systems.”