Harkness Screens has turned its attention to producing protective barriers during COVID-19 pandemic.
With movie theaters not purchasing new screens, and after having to lay-off and furlough some employees, the company decided to shift its focus. Using its cinema screen material and process, the company developed a line of protective barriers and personal protective equipment to help aid those on the front lines during the pandemic.
Senior Vice President Americas at Harkness Anthony Kelly said “I’ve always loved going to the movies, and since I joined Harkness, I’ve been proud of the team’s passion to make a big contribution to bringing movies to life in the unique way they are in theaters. But I’ve never been prouder to see colleagues ask, in such troubled times, what could they do to assist those fighting COVID-19 and also to help keep their colleagues in jobs. They, turned to protective barriers and equipment, and have adapted brilliantly.”
Kelly said that with a large footprint factory, due to the size of movie theater screens, members of staff at the plant can safely work on a manufacturing line while socially distancing. Having now designed, tested and begun production of clear and privacy barriers and personal protective equipment (PPE) products like face-shields and gowns, the company is now registered with the state to help with the emergency requirements. The barriers are available as floor standing or can hang from the ceiling. They all use PVC materials and Harkness uses the same movie-theatre screen welding manufacturing processes to finish the protective barriers. This means the barriers are flexible and light-weight but robust. They are designed to act as sneeze-guards and barriers to droplets, while allowing social interaction via the transparent version and privacy by using the white screen options.
“Using our movie screens materials and processes to create protective barriers and PPE products is amazing to see,” said Kelly. “Now, with the beginning of re-openings in the community, these same products are able to make that a safer process. We are already receiving lots of inquiries from those who need help with opening safely using barrier screens especially. This includes restaurants, offices, factories and stores, and of course, our colleagues in the world of movie-theaters. And we remain dedicated to providing technology for cinema, uniquely staying open for them even through this crisis. So, it’s even better that we can be a part of paving the way for movie-theaters to re-open and to making the new screens they will then need again.”
With many ideas within Harkness that could aid in the return to everyday life, Kelly said that he was enthused to receive support from local government officials after contacting them about what Harkness could make.
“When I heard about the ideas that Harkness Screens had developed, I was thrilled to help connect them with as many partners around the region and state as possible,” said Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe. “Harkness is a valuable member of the Botetourt corporate family, and we wanted to celebrate the initiative they took to innovate during this time of international health crisis.”
“Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe called me back, literally within ten minutes,” Kelly said, “He, his team and their Virginia colleagues all the way to the governor’s office have been wonderful in their support, and helping to keep our employees in jobs and giving our emergency products opportunities. From the first conversation we had, it was clear that their goals and ours were totally aligned, that it wasn’t just on how we could help their efforts to combat Covid-19 as well as keep people safely in work during the crisis, but also on how we could thrive as a job-creating business beyond it.”
Although the company has manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom, France, China and India, all of the screens provided by Harkness to United States theaters are made in its Virginia plant. The company recently invested three million dollars to expand capacity by opening the Botetourt County facility. It also meant Harkness could change from solvent to water-based coatings to create a much more environmentally-friendly manufacturing process.
