Eastman Donates PETG Material to Manufacture 10,000 Face Shields for Tennessee Healthcare Workers

Eastman has supplied high‑quality PETG material to aid the production of face shields for healthcare workers across Tennessee. The initiative, coordinated by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, aims to manufacture 10,000 face shields in two weeks using university‑based 3D printers.

When a local shortage of acetate sheets—used for the clear shielding component—arose, Eastman’s Polymer Technology Division responded immediately. Within 48 hours of receiving a request on March 21, the B230 team, led by operators Jill Cline and Patsy Barton with detailed planning by group leader Chad Frazier, began producing rolls of Eastman PETG.

By Tuesday night, 1,000 feet of PETG film had been delivered to Austin Peay University in Clarksville. The university’s project coordinator confirmed that the material performed flawlessly, noting, "Eastman material was working perfectly."

“To see how you responded—getting this done safely and quickly to help first‑line medical personnel in Nashville is incredibly awesome,” said Brendan Boyd, Eastman vice president of specialty plastics and fibers technology. “Rising to the occasion like this is a great sign of how we will weather this storm by working together.”

With Eastman’s support, colleges and universities across the state can continue to meet the urgent demand for protective equipment, ensuring that frontline medical staff have reliable gear to combat COVID‑19.