Kinder Industries Shifts from Boat Covers to Face Shields to Support Hospitals
Kinder Industries Inc., based in Bristol, Rhode Island, has spent 23 years making boat covers and enclosures. In response to the coronavirus pandemic and urgent needs from hospitals and medical staff, the company has repurposed its production lines to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE), focusing on wrap-around face shields for healthcare workers.
From Marine Fabrication to Medical Protection
Known for durable marine covers and custom enclosures, Kinder Industries redirected its skills and facilities toward producing medical-grade face shields. The shields are designed to wrap around the head, offering an added layer of protection for clinicians, nurses, and other frontline staff. While the company has made a limited number of masks, its current priority is scaling shield production to meet institutional demand.
Partnerships with Local Health Systems
Kinder Industries is collaborating directly with Lifespan and SouthCoast Health to deliver the shields where they are needed most. These partnerships have helped ensure that production targets align with the practical needs of hospitals and clinics, and that finished shields are delivered to appropriate facilities for immediate use.
Production Capacity and Goals
The company set an ambitious target to produce 18,000 face shields. According to owner Philip Kinder, they are currently building roughly 1,100 shields per day and expect to complete the initial order in about two weeks. Kinder emphasizes that the operation can scale further, saying, “We’re building about 1,100 per day right now and I know we can do better. This is what we all need to do on a daily basis to make things happen and to make things in America, because we can do it.”
Community Support and Supply Coordination
Kinder reports that customers and community supporters helped secure the materials and covered transport costs, allowing the company to move quickly from concept to full production. That community support has been critical to meeting tight timelines and ensuring that supplies reach health workers without delay. The company is prepared to accept and fill additional orders beyond the initial commitment as materials and logistics permit.
Why This Shift Matters
Manufacturers with capabilities in textiles, plastics, and fabrication have played an important role during the pandemic by converting production to PPE. Kinder Industries’ pivot demonstrates how a regionally based manufacturer can respond to emergent public health needs, applying established craftsmanship and assembly processes to produce protective equipment for medical personnel.
What Comes Next
As the company completes its current order, it will continue to coordinate with health system partners and respond to new requests. Kinder Industries has positioned its facilities and workforce to remain flexible, prioritizing the well-being of medical staff and contributing to local and regional efforts to secure essential PPE supplies.
Local media have featured the company’s efforts, documenting the transition from marine manufacturing to PPE production and highlighting the rapid mobilization and community support that made it possible. Kinder Industries’ example underscores the broader role small and medium-sized manufacturers can play in meeting healthcare supply shortages during emergencies.