Photos: The Lutema USA team was represented at the White House Easter Egg Roll, and President Biden sported M95i masks made by the AMMA member. 

How did Lutema USA begin manufacturing PPE?

Our parent company MI Technologies, Inc., is an electronics manufacturer and distributor. For others, we’ve made items like electronic components, toys, and lighting products. 

We lost a core business during the pandemic due to the lack of demand, so we decided to pivot one of our brands Lutema into PPE early on. We saw that the quality of PPE sent to the USA from China could have been better.

So we decided, why don’t we make these ourselves in the US?  And that’s how we started manufacturing PPE and opening up our health division, MI Health.  Today, we operate out of San Diego, California.  

Why did you make PPE, and what did it take to enter the market?

At first, due to the Pandemic, we imported PPE from China to sell here. We realized PPE would be essential as everything was shutting down. Entire countries were shutting down.

We decided to bring in the needed machines and start manufacturing ourselves – a colossal undertaking. We raised the financing and found a spot next to our warehouse in San Diego. That’s how we opened up our facility to manufacture the masks.

Was there anything unique about your masks?

We knew that masks were a boring product. They were usually white, green, or sky blue. One of the things we decided to do was come up with nicer colors.

We also had recently visited Asia, where people wore masks in everyday life. We realized this might happen here too. 

One of our first thoughts was to mix it up if masks were to become an everyday thing. We came up with colors and then a whole process of ensuring that our masks were efficient and something we could sell to hospitals and consumers.

We investigated how the FDA and other agencies regulated the products. We made our products to meet the standards for healthcare personnel. The masks had to work and be fun. We wanted to offer the market something different. 

What was your most significant PPE success?

My company manufactured masks for the White House and the President. We’re very proud of that. 

Initially, people wore our masks when they visited the White House. We can only guess that when the President’s team sought an American manufacturer and wanted to support a small manufacturer, they tried and loved our product.

We heard through the grapevine that President Biden liked our product. And once the President started wearing our product, other government officials followed. It was cool to learn that no one got on Air Force One unless they wore our masks. The world saw how we offered an excellent, high-filtration product that was very comfortable to wear.

Finally, ours was the mask for the White House Easter Egg Roll. We got to go to the White House, visit the “Egg Roll,” and even give out masks with Joe Biden’s laser-engraved signature.

Did any other VIPs wear your masks?

We sent our masks to HBO, who used them on various sets during production. Drew Barrymore loved our masks in the color yellow – so we sent her a ton for her show!

What was interesting about learning to manufacture masks and PPE?

Making masks was a fun project. It is both simple and very complex. 

We obtained machinery from other countries. Instructions were often in different languages, so we found people that could help us make it all work. 

We were also testing out different colors and prints. We learned how to stamp the product or even imprint it with images or even a blend of colors. One popular item combined red and green, creating a relaxed, shimmery color – and people loved it. 

What is the secret behind a good mask?

It may sound technical, but it is the high-efficiency meltblown. That is the layer that filters. That layer sometimes gets called “corona-charged” or “hydro-charged.” This layer ensures particles are attracted to the filters when they flow through the mask. 

The charge works to help ensure safety. If the charge gives out, particles flow freely through, and you’ll get lower filtration—this is also why there’s an expiration date on masks and respirators. 

The mask fit to prevent leakage is the other priority for high filtration. Properly fitted masks provide excellent protection for you and others. Properly fitted masks are also more comfortable and likely to engender ongoing use. 

What’s next for PPE that’s made in America?

We have survived so far without much support from the government. But the government is finally seeing a need to help small manufacturers, especially US-based manufacturers. We don’t know how long that will last or if it will change with the political winds.  

What does your idea of success look like for the industry? 

It’s a mess out there. So many governmental and non-governmental agencies are involved, with no absolute standard. And where there is a standard, it needs to be updated. 

We’d like to see standards supporting the American PPE industry. AMMA is developing a seal for American manufacturers that informs consumers of US-made quality. We want incentives for group purchasing organizations, hospitals, or even the government to buy PPE made here. For any organization with sustainability goals, for example, meeting those environmental goals also starts buying from American makers.  

What is your hope for AMMA?

AMMA began to give the domestic makers of PPE, especially the smaller suppliers, a voice in the market and a voice with the government. 

The pressures on manufacturers are so intense.  I’ve seen 30 or 40 competitors fold. Those are jobs lost and missed opportunities to keep America resilient.  We started AMMA to help large and small manufacturers engage with the US government and have a strong presence in the US market.  

As entrepreneurs, we will put our money into developing these products and shoring up the PPE supply chain to weather pandemics. Millions of people have worn our products; we know we can manufacture millions daily.

But at the end of the day, the US government told us that they would return the market to foreign companies through their actions. That was disheartening. So now the American Medical Manufacturers Association is working to fix that.

We want to get messages out there to let people know we exist. We’re American manufacturers. 

Why is it essential to work collectively the way you’re doing with AMMA?

A rising tide lifts all boats, and that’s the motto for our organization. One of us couldn’t do it alone. Being in a group allows us to learn what others are going through regarding government guidance or buying situations.

A shared voice in government is critical for effective advocacy, and we need a louder voice to help the government and private industry see what is required to save this crucial national security industry.  

Why make PPE in the USA if China already dominates the industry? 

First is the supply chain. If China closes again in another pandemic, how do we get PPE?

If we make PPE in the US, we will have more stable supply chains and pricing stability, and we can focus on sustainability.  We have a significant advantage on biodegradable masks because all the biodegradable raw material comes from the US. It is a huge competitive advantage.

We need to recommit to buying American. Sales of USA-made PPE are down as China keeps driving costs to noncompetitive levels using noncompetitive labor costs.  

Everyone says to buy American. Now we need the government and industry to do it.