What Is PPE? U.S. Suppliers of Personal Protective Equipment

 As PPE suppliers in Maine, we pride ourselves on helping businesses, families, and essential workers help protect themselves from the coronavirus. When you source droplet precautions PPE (personal protective equipment) from SiliconeGear™, you benefit from factory-direct pricing, fast delivery times, and American-made quality. In light of the PPE shortage, SiliconeGear™ has become one of America's leading PPE suppliers, offering our best-selling face shield in bulk and wholesale quantities.

American PPE Suppliers

The Casco Shield™ is a best-selling face shield available for individual and wholesale orders. Not only is it comfortable, reusable, and durable, but it's available at factory-direct prices.

Factory-Direct PPE Suppliers Offer:

• VALUE: The Casco Shield™ is available as a 2-Pack ($22.99), 20-Pack ($125), 40-Pack ($226), and 120-Pack ($610). Each headband comes with two visors for added value.

• COMFORT: The headband is made from flexible polypropylene and the strap is engineered from stretchy silicone, offering superior adjustability.

• DURABILITY: The headband and strap are dishwasher and sanitization-safe, meaning that you can keep cleaning and using this reusable face shield sourced from American PPE suppliers.

• FAST DELIVERY: We ship all of our products from our factory in Maine. Smaller orders ship within 3 business days or less.

• WHOLESALE: We are pleased to offer bulk orders on this website for face shields in quantities of 20, 40, and 120, as well as individual units. We are also pleased to provide you with a quote for larger orders.

Disclaimer: The Casco Shield™ has not been tested per any OSHA or FDA testing. For more information and to read our disclaimer.

"First of all, thank you so much for making and selling these. Very grateful to have the opportunity to buy/wear them, and as a former New Hampshirite, I am very glad they are made in Maine." - Maxwell, Casco Shield™ customer

PPE Suppliers Who Understand Your Business

Not only are we a personal protective equipment manufacturer, but we're a small American business too. In other words, we understand how important it is to protect your team, whether you work in a school, a grocery store, or a factory.

Beyond that, we understand that finding quality gear from reputable PPE suppliers can be expensive. That's why we're offering affordable prices on our face shields for all customers.

Our goal is to help businesses reopen affordably and safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

5 Considerations When Sourcing PPE for Coronavirus

Protecting yourself and your team during a pandemic can be stressful and costly. Whether you're looking for aerosol or droplet precautions PPE, you'll need to consider:

1. Delivery times

2. Quality

3. Value

4. Customer service

5. Empowering your community

PPE Suppliers Offering Fast Delivery Times

You won't find overseas shipping delays at SiliconeGear™. The Casco Shield™ is 100% made in Maine and shipped from our factory.

• Bulk orders leave our facility within 3 business days.

• Larger wholesale orders (1000+) ship within 1-2 weeks from purchase order, contingent on prior orders.

"Received the face shields today. Thank you for the prompt delivery. Much success." - Hugh, Casco Shield™ customer

Since May, we have been delivering PPE equipment to schools, dentists, ice cream shops, and wholesalers across the country. We have a national reputation for fast delivery times and excellent customer service.

How Do You Find Quality PPE Suppliers?

We are an ISO:13485 certified American factory. That means that before we became a leading PPE supplier, SiliconeGear™ was already a medical device component manufacturer. Our design, manufacturing, and fulfillment processes have been repeatedly audited for medical quality.

"According to hospital workers this shield is superior in construction to the shields our local hospital is required to wear." Cammi, Casco Shield™ customer

In addition to our certifications, SiliconeGear™ is also a trailblazer in American-made quality. Our factory, Casco Bay Molding, was awarded Maine Manufacturer of the Year. Many of our products are sold internationally.

Value: Affordable PPE for Coronavirus Exists

Whether you are looking for two or 10,000 face shields, you will find fair and affordable pricing on SiliconeGear™. We offer the Casco Shield™ in the following quantities, each with 2 visors per headband:

• Casco Shield™ 2 Pack: $22.99 ($11.50 per shield)
• Casco Shield™ 20 Pack: $125 ($6.25 per shield)
• Casco Shield™ 40 Pack: $226 ($5.65 per shield)
• Casco Shield™ 120 Pack: $610 ($5.09 per shield)

PPE Suppliers with Wholesale Discounts

We offer additional discounts for orders exceeding 720 units. Please fill out this form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

Customer Service

Have a question about our face shield? Want to learn about our upcoming antimicrobial products or reusable sandwich bag? Email us and a member of our team will be in touch shortly. We work hard to respond to all inquiries within 2 business days.

Help Your Community By Choosing Local PPE Suppliers

Today, many Americans are struggling to find work, access affordable healthcare and regain some form of normalcy. When you source equipment from SiliconeGear™, you know that all of our employees receive a fair wage and have health insurance options. We are pleased to continue growing our team in Southern, Maine.

Is There a Shortage of PPE Suppliers?

Yes. At various points during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has experienced a PPE shortage. This is due to:

1. Dependence on overseas suppliers and manufacturers.

2. Increased demand for protective gear in hospitals, schools, and reopening businesses.

3. International demand for personal protective equipment has increased simultaneously, stressing global supply chains.

How do you find a reliable source? Look for an American PPE supplier like SiliconeGear™ for fast delivery times, factory-direct pricing, and superior customer service.

What Is PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)?

• PPE stands for personal protective equipment.

• It is a technical term used to describe specific gear for healthcare workers and at-risk individuals.

• It may be relevant to reopening businesses during COVID-19.

• Typically, it creates a divide between a person’s mouth, eyes, nose, and skin, and external bacteria and viruses.

• Equipment is typically held to certain quality standards (more on that later), which does not mean that a homemade face mask, for example, qualifies.

• Sourcing from U.S suppliers of personal protective equipment often translates to better quality products and faster delivery times. 

PPE, which stands for personal protective equipment, can refer to supplies used by healthcare, construction, laboratory, or industrial workers. Most people asking what PPE gear is are doing so in response to the COVID-19 and the PPE shortage affecting healthcare workers, cleaning services, dentists, grocery store clerks, Uber drivers, office workers, teachers, and so many other essential members of our communities. 

PPE Stands for Personal Protective Equipment

This term is largely used to refer to clothing and other gear used to protect individuals from hazardous conditions. For example, a construction worker may wear a hard hat, special gloves, and steel-toed boots. It’s also “personal,” meaning that it isn’t designed to be shared among different people. This may be especially important for healthcare workers and others dealing with infectious diseases such as coronavirus (COVID-19).

Which Industries Need PPE Suppliers?

Today, industries beyond healthcare need gear to reopen safely and interact with the public in any way. Today, there is unprecedented demand for protective gear in:

1. Blended learning schools and universities

2. Healthcare facilities

3. Retail and grocery stores

4. Restaurants and other food services

5. Manufacturers and warehouses

6. Cleaning crews

7. Flight attendants and others flying during coronavirus

Coronavirus PPE Is Only One Type of Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is a term used in a variety of industries (construction, public safety, science, healthcare), meaning that standards differ. Furthermore, there are different types of PPE within industries, which may be subject to unique levels of regulatory oversight.

For example, OSHA, the U.S. Department of Labor, reviews equipment for construction, shipyard, marine, longshoring, and general industry. Any supplies that fall under OSHA jurisdiction must meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, according to their website.

They also specify that, in these industries cases, PPE means gear that is designed to protect against work-related contact with mechanical, electrical, chemical, and other dangers.

Types of Personal Protective Equipment

Keep in mind that workplace gear can be divided into many subcategories depending on the industry and its application. For example, gloves alone may be categorized into six types. Anyone looking to buy PPE equipment should consult with their physician and seek knowledge of their industry and workplace.

In short, most people divide into five subcategories. These may include:

1. Respiratory protection

2. Face and eye protection

3. Hand protection

4. Hearing protection

5. Body protection

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shortage of respiratory and face and eye protection, though hand protection and body protection may also be relevant depending on the situation and its relevant procedures.

22 Types of PPE Gear

Let’s go over a few examples of respiratory and face and eye protection. As always, the following is neither medical nor legal advice and is designed solely for educational purposes.

Airborne Precautions PPE (Respiratory) Examples:

1. Surgical masks

2. N-95 respirators

3. Respirator cartridges

4. Half-mask Respirators

5. Full-face respirators

Face masks are typically divided based on the level of protection against droplet precautions or airborne contaminants. For levels beyond a minimum performance mask, this type of PPE gear must be subject to specific and stringent testing for a manufacturer to many any type of claim. This is called ASTM testing.

Types of PPE Face Masks Based on ASTM Testing

Per ASTM testing, there are 5 levels of mask protection:

1. ASTM Level 3

2. ASTM Level 2

3. ASTM Level 1

4. Low Performance

5. Minimum performance

Typically, the higher the ASTM level, the higher the fluid resistance and filtration efficiency.

What Type of PPE Is Used for Droplet Precautions?

For specific advice, please see a physician as there are specific regulations to follow for droplet precautions in cases of high contagions, such as COVID-19, influenza, and Ebola. Personal protective equipment may include a gown, gloves, type of face mask depending on the interaction and the advice of your medical professional, and supplies for the patient as well as cleaning and isolation procedures.

For up-to-date information please see the CDC website and speak with your physician.

Face and Eye Protection PPE Supplies

Again, it is important to note that a variety of industries require eye and face protection, including laboratories, construction, and healthcare. Examples of this type of gear may include:

1. Safety glasses (general)

2. Laser safety glasses

3. Chemical or infectious droplet goggles

4. Impact goggles

5. Shields

Hand Protection from PPE Suppliers

Gloves or protection of some sort may be required for a variety of industries and held to unique industry-specific standards. Here are a few examples.

1. Wire mesh gloves

2. Insulated gloves

3. Heavy chemical resistant gloves

4. Light-heavy chemical resistant gloves

5. Light chemical resistant gloves

6. Light latex, nitrile or vinyl gloves (of which there are several subsets depending on the level of biological hazard).

PPE Meaning for Hearing Protection

Another great example of personal protective equipment typically outside of the healthcare community, hearing protection may include:

1. Hearing band

2. Reusable earplugs

3. Disposable earplugs

Body Protection Examples for a Variety of Industries

A variety of industries require some sort of body protection. This may include anything from a vest to a hazmat suit. Here are a few other examples:

1. Plastics, rubber or rubberized fabrics, or neoprene (typically for work with hazardous chemicals)

2. Flame resistant materials

3. Cotton or Cotton blend materials

Who Overseas COVID-19 PPE Suppliers? 

In the case of COVID-19, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) may be responsible for regulatory oversight concerning different types of supplies because it may be classified as a medical device. Keep in mind that there are different levels of medical devices, which may require unique manufacturer certifications, testing, and more.

The federal government has said that PPE should be worn by medical professionals and not the general public. If you have any questions or want up-to-date information on the status of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, please see the CDC website and consult your physician.

Fun Fact: The N95 mask is designed to obstruct a minimum of 95% of test particles (see this comparative study published in the American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal). This type of PPE equipment is subject to FDA regulations, as are other important types of PPE for coronavirus mitigation, including ventilators, masks (as opposed to face coverings), testing, and many other critical supplies.

Setting the Standard for American PPE Suppliers

Need an affordable source for personal protective equipment? We're dedicated to offering businesses like yours access to high-quality wholesale face shields. We will soon be expanding our product line to include antimicrobial door handle covers. Stay tuned for updates.

Disclaimer: The Casco Shield™ has not been tested per ASTM standards and is not regulated by the FDA. None of the above information is medical advice. It was written for informational purposes only.