Porex Awarded $16.2 Million Contract from United States Government to Expand the Pipette-Tip Filter Supply Chain
The investment comes in an effort to supplement COVID-19 diagnostic testing efforts and to prepare for future pandemics
(Fairburn, GA – October 20, 2021)
Porex, a global leader in custom-engineered porous polymer solutions, received a $16.2 million award from the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase production capacity of aerosol-barrier filters used in filtered pipettes for COVID-19 and other infectious disease testing. Porex is a subsidiary of Filtration Group.
Across much of 2020, the diagnostic industry suffered critical shortages in clinical lab consumables necessary to both test and diagnose the virus. Because COVID-19 is readily diagnosed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, filtered pipette tips are necessary to prevent cross-contamination of infectious aerosols into samples and test equipment used by diagnostics, research, and blood transfusion laboratories. While Porex and its customers collaborated across 2020 to significantly increase filter production capacity, future demands necessitate additional investment.
Selected from a competitive acquisition pool of 91 U.S. companies, this supply chain investment will allow Porex to increase its domestic filter production by over 50 percent per month at its Fairburn, GA facility which is expected to be complete by October 2022. This contract will enable Porex to expand existing infrastructure and add new production equipment to supply pipette tip filters critical to molecular test accuracy. Nearly 60% of the award is being placed with U.S. small businesses, and the investment will enable Porex to add dozens of new US manufacturing jobs in South Fulton County.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical that industry capacity expand to ensure ample supply of components that will enable efficient, accurate test results without delay,” said Rob Carpio, President of Porex. “We are proud to be collaborating with the DoD and HHS to improve molecular diagnostic readiness & reliability for whatever testing demands we encounter in the future.”
Porex was selected in part because of its innovative CERTIFIED PURE POREX® laboratory media and filters which prevent material additives, contaminates and heavy metals from interfering with clinical, analytical and blood transfusion testing accuracy. The pipette tip filters manufactured through this investment will include Edison-Award-winning FORTRESS® filters, which provide sample protection from aerosols and aspirated liquids, as well as pipette tip filters designed specifically for high-speed, automated assembly systems.
About Porex Corporation
Porex Corporation, a Filtration Group company, takes pride in 60+ years of partnering with our customers to deliver engineering and design innovations that turn their product ideas into reality. Through a collaborative engineering partnership, Porex develops high-value solutions to our customers’ product design challenges in absorption, application, diffusion, filtration, venting, and wicking. Their sintered polymer, bonded fiber, hydrophilic foam and track-etched membrane solutions deliver essential product functionality. The Certified Pure POREX™ program substantiates the purity of POREX filters and materials via comprehensive testing conducted by independent laboratories. With unmatched engineering experience, stringent regulatory and quality standards, and an extensive global footprint, POREX® solutions form the standard of material excellence to bring your next product to life – and create a safer, healthier, and more productive world. Visit Porex at www.porex.com.
About Filtration Group Filtration Group, an affiliate of Madison Industries, is making the world safer, healthier and more productive by creating innovative solutions that deliver outstanding customer value. With a passionate team, global footprint and leading technologies, Filtration Group is driving innovation and developing unparalleled filtration solutions for a variety of end-markets: life sciences, indoor air quality and industrial. One of the fastest growing companies in the industry, Filtration Group serves its customers from 114 facilities in over 30 countries. Please visit Filtration Group and Madison Industries at: www.filtrationgroup.com and www.madison.net.