Hand Sanitizer During Pandemic
InkJet, Inc. Produced Hand Sanitizer to Help U.S. Supply Chain and Essential Workers Maintain Health and Safety Standards
Demand for hand sanitizer has escalated throughout the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with shortages of this product being the norm for consumers as well as essential U.S. supply chain workers and first responders. InkJet, Inc. is a woman-owned small business that is playing a role in ensuring that this essential product is available to address this critical need for plant and warehouse workers, package handlers, grocery store stockers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters and others who are doing their best to keep Americans healthy and safe.
Based in the Houston suburb of Willis, InkJet, Inc. typically produces industrial printing inks for an extensive range of industry sectors and applications. InkJet, Inc.’s leaders recognized that many of the same chemicals used in the industrial ink production process are the same as those needed for the production of hand sanitizer in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines and began producing and shipping liquid hand sanitizer in late March.
Due to demand, the company has gone from one production line and one shift to three production lines and two shifts. They have also almost doubled the number of production people, employing temporary workers to meet these demands.
InkJet, Inc. initially donated hand sanitizers to Houston area law enforcement agencies. The company is now selling its hand sanitizer online and is shipping quart bottles, one-gallon jugs, five-gallon pails, and large volume drums and totes. In addition to requesting that InkJet, Inc. ship this product, local buyers have an option to pick up the product from the company’s Willis warehouse. Pick up is a non-contact experience.
InkJet, Inc. Chairwoman Patricia Quinlan commented, “Our facility has the capacity to produce fairly large quantities of hand sanitizer, and we are eager to help during these challenging times. As a company, we live and breathe our mission to ‘Build the Tribe.’ ‘That means we must adopt and carry out the core values of supporting and helping one another. During this challenging time, we have expanded our commitment to building the tribe to include the greater Houston community and throughout our country.”
Hand sanitizer manufactured by InkJet, Inc. is available in either clear liquid or clear gel form for transfer into spray bottles or wall mounts for easier use InkJet, Inc.’s hand sanitizer is made from grain ethanol with a lavender or fresh scent and does not leave hands sticky or dry. The company offers the liquid sanitizer in multiple configurations: 32-ounce bottles in a case of nine, one-gallon jugs as a case of four, five-gallon pails, and 55-gallon drums. The product is also available in 275-gallon totes in gel form.