In an effort to meet regional and national demand for respirator masks, Wisconsin-based companies Monterey Mills and Eder Flag are teaming up to begin production of vitally needed barrier masks for use by front-line medical personnel and others seeking protective face coverings.

Monterey Mills based in Janesville, WI is the largest textile mill of its kind in North America, and supplier of knitted pile fabric used in a variety of medical and air-filtration products. Eder Flag, based in Oak Creek, WI is the nation’s largest manufacturer of flags and flagpoles and is converting part of its flag-sewing operations to produce the barrier masks.