BIW delivers first six swab-making machines to Puritan Medical Products

Courtesy / General Dynamics Bath Iron Works General Dynamics Bath Iron Works employees load swab-making machines to ship to Puritan Medical Products in Guilford.

Write a Comment

By Staff

Bath Iron Works has delivered six of the 30 machines being built for Puritan Medical Products so the medical swab company can rapidly expand its ability to meet demand for COVID-19 testing components.

Guilford-based Puritan, the only U.S. manufacturer of the sterile swabs used in COVID-19 testing, has been tasked by the federal government to increase its production to meet a nationwide shortage.

Bath Iron Works, owned by Virginia-based General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD), builds destroyers and sophisticated systems for the U.S. Navy. But in an unusual venture outside its core industry, BIW was hired by Puritan to manufacture the machines necessary to ramp up swab production.

The U.S. Air Force, which is coordinating contracts under the Defense Production Act, identified Bath Iron Works as uniquely capable to build the machinery within the required timeframe.

In building the equipment, BIW has utilized its existing supply chain with support from the General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems division in Saco.

Another delivery of machines is scheduled for later this week, according to a news release.

“BIW is pleased to complete the first delivery of these machines which will enable Puritan to expand the important work it is doing to help respond to this pandemic,” BIW President Dirk Lesko said. “Our employees’ skill combined with a well-developed supply chain enable us to meet this critical need on an unusually short timetable.”

BIW finalized its contract with Puritan in May.