Northern Acrylics helps social distancing with plastics

DULUTH,MN-- At Northern Acrylics in Duluth medical gear is typically rolling off their assembly line.

"We create about 35 to 40 different dispensaries for health care all across the country," says Tim Johnson the founder of Northern Acrylics.

Now those dispensaries are taking a back seat during this coronavirus pandemic as Tim's team now focusing on a new timely plastic product.

Johnson says, "We had all these requests for guards and things you can put against a barrier, so you can protect the people that are behind the counter."

Soon these plastic guards will find new homes behind the counter at your local grocery store or healthcare facility.

Johnson says Super One and St. Luke's Hospital is ordering the majority of the new barriers with those requests now adding up to more than 9 thousand pounds of plastic.

He says, "The urgency has been kind of difficult too, we've had to produce everything so quickly.  We're in the critical stage now. It's been challenging but we're up for it and we're doing it."

A challenge he's accepted to help make a lasting difference in his community.

Johnson says, "We're not out to make a big killing on them, we just want to support the community and support the people who need them. So if we can help people get through it, I mean that's what we're all about. We just want to help any way we can." 

Northern Acrylics plan to make at least 300 dividers in the next few days.