U.S. Surgical Mask Manufacturers Join Forces to Create Secure Mask Supply Association and Raise Awareness of Domestic Supply Risk

U.S. Surgical Mask Manufacturers Join Forces to Create Secure Mask

Supply Association and Raise Awareness of Domestic Supply Risk

Founded by 3 of the largest surgical mask and respirator manufacturers in the United States, the

Secure Mask Supply Association (SMSA) was formed to highlight the risk of major supply shortages

associated with increased foreign-sourcing dependency.

October 15, 2014 – The Secure Mask Supply Association (SMSA), a collaboration between

industry competitors Prestige Ameritech, Crosstex, and Gerson, has announced their

formation and their goal of ensuring adequate U.S. mask and respirator supplies during global

infectious disease threats through a viable American-based mask manufacturing industry.

Currently, the worldwide mask and respirator manufacturing and distribution business is

largely conducted overseas, with 90% of masks being made in foreign countries. While the

United States Government has expressed clear concern about the availability of America’s

foreign-controlled mask and respirator supply during global emergencies, it currently has no

dedicated plans to address the issue.

“In times of major infectious disease threats, as we’ve seen with H1N1, mask and respirator

shortages could turn our entire healthcare system on its head. We’ve come very close to that

scenario in the past with the H1N1 threat and are certain to come up against it in the future.”,

says Mike Bowen of Prestige Ameritech. “The question of whether or not the U.S. is prepared

for future epidemics is definitely one of the most pressing issues today and as it stands, we

are not prepared as long as this industry has most of its operations on other continents.”

The three founding companies of the Secure Mask Supply Association are entirely Americanowned

and maintain operations in the U.S.

“Individually, we have spent the past 7 years trying to address the concern brought to us by

Federal officials. Together, through the SMSA, we hope to finally move the United States

Government into action to better prepare for scenarios that directly threaten the lives and

safety of healthcare workers, first responders, and the general public at large. “, says Bowen.

“Surgical masks and respirators seem simple and abundant, but they are neither and we need

to make strides to bring more of this essential industry back to the U.S. before we learn the

hard way.”

For more information about the SMSA, visit http://www.securemasksupply.org.

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