On a normal day, the manufacturing line at Philadelphia-based KGM Gaming would be producing casino seating, slot bases, millwork, and interior and exterior casino signage products to be used with Ainsworth slot machines.
We’re not in normal times.
KGM’s assembly line was silenced last month when Pennsylvania closed its statewide casino industry along with non-essential businesses in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic
KGM Gaming employees are making medical face shields instead of slot machine accessories to help hospitals in Philadelphia/Courtesy Photo
That led Lance Weiss, vice president of KGM’s seating division, to come up with a way to help the state deal with the viral outbreak. He reached out to another manufacturer and the companies teamed up to produce medical face shields for healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and essential employees.
Philadelphia is experiencing supply shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as medical shields, as are other communities around the U.S.,
“We went into a mode of seeing what we can do to help by trying to match the greatest needs to our ability,” Weiss said.
From his home driveway, in order to comply with CDC and Pennsylvania state guidelines, Weiss and his KGM crew set up a production line to help meet the demand for medical face shields.
“When deciding to produce these medical face shields, first and foremost was the safety of my team,” Weiss said. “Therefore we decided to set up a small, outdoor assembly process with KGM team members who volunteered to help.”
KGM Gaming employees are making medical face shields instead of slot machine accessories to help hospitals in Philadelphia/Courtesy Photo
Weiss said the KGM team is producing close to 1,000 medical shields per day, based on the current availability of materials. The face shields are being distributed to hospitals in the metropolitan Philadelphia area.
Weiss said KGM has applied with Pennsylvania for essential status, which would allow the company to utilize its manufacturing facility and safely add more employees to the production process in order to keep up with the “overwhelming” demand.
“We are very proud to be able to contribute our time and services to help provide equipment to the hospital workers that are serving on the front lines of this crisis in order to keep our community healthy and safe,” Weiss said.
KGM Gaming, which employs 49 workers, serves as the exclusive distributor for Ainsworth in the Northeast U.S. market covering 11 states. The company is also the North American manufacturer and distributor for Alfastreet Games.
KGM Gaming also has a satellite office in Pleasantville, New Jersey.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
