Specialty Fabrics Review September 2020 - 41

the "essential" category when California
issued a statewide "shelter in place" order-
after all, the company carries materials
that go into the production of face masks,
protective shields, medical gowns and
other PPE products.
Still, says Grewal, with all the
uncertainty surrounding the shutdown,
he didn't want to take any chances. "So,
I wrote to our customers and asked them
to send us letters, so if there were any
questions, we could show that we are
essential," he explains. "They did, but
then no one ever came around to ask."
That's probably just as well. Grewal
says that in the 34 years since he started
the company, "We've never been this
busy. Never."
It was all about the elastic. As American
Plastics customers shifted to making face
masks, they turned to the company for
elastic, which quickly ran out.
"We have our factories that we purchase
from, but they said, 'We are swamped;
we cannot produce anything,' but I have
a factory in India that was able to provide
us with about 700,000 yards, which we
brought in by air," he says.
It was the first of about eight
shipments, which weren't easy to
arrange. "India was in lockdown, so they
had to get special permission from the
local government to take the material to
the airport," says Grewal.

Besides "millions of yards of elastic,"
Grewal says the company has also been
supplying webbing, cord lock and other
components for PPE. He says he paid
particular attention to making sure the
company was pricing the elastic fairly.
"We kept the same price we'd been
charging and just added the freight cost to
it," he explains. "People were saying, 'You're
not charging enough,' but I would not feel
right about charging more. Right now, it is
about taking care of the customer, helping
our country and helping the people who are
suffering. That's what it's all about."
Grewal also made sure to get elastic
to as many of his customers as possible.
"Customers would say they wanted
500,000 yards, and I would tell them no,"
he says. "We need to be able to give it to
every customer who needs it. Small orders
might not have been as efficient, but they
were important too. My warehouse people
asked, 'Why are were selling one spool of
150 yards?' but I said if someone wants just
one spool, that's fine."
American Plastics also donated elastic
to customers who were giving away masks
to first responders. "That was nice for our
employees," he says. "They feel they are
helping people, helping make products that
save lives. One of our employees said, 'I feel
proud, we are doing essential work.'"

A busy warehouse has been
a common sight at American
Plastics, Tracy, Calif., during
the pandemic, says owner Gary
Grewal-in fact, it's the busiest the
company has been in its 34 years.
Photo: American Plastics.

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Jeff Moravec is a freelance writer based
in Brooklyn Park, Minn.

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Specialty Fabrics Review September 2020

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