Universal Audio, which is known for manufacturing professional audio recording hardware and software, is pitching in the fight against COVID-19 — making more than 1,000 masks for the Kaiser Permanente medical staff in Santa Cruz and Watsonville.
Brenda George, RN MBA, Director Medical Offices at Kaiser Permanente, inspects the new masks.
At the UA Custom Shop, 10 highly skilled employees are usually busy hand-wiring analog recording equipment — products known as the industry standard for 50-plus years. When all Universal Audio offices closed on March 16 as part of the Bay Area’s “shelter in place” order, that manufacturing ceased.
Since then, UA Custom Shop employees tackled the important task of making cloth masks that were in short supply for medical staff. Working from home, they have produced more than 1,000 masks and with the shelter in place order continuing, there’s no signs of slowing down.
“We are proud to share the enormous talent, craftsmanship, and dedication of our Custom Shop workers with the community in these unprecedented times,” said Bill Putnam, CEO of Universal Audio. “Though we look forward to the day when we can get back to building world-class analog gear, we hope these efforts will make a difference in the lives of our local medical community.”
Masks with musical themes are ready to be delivered.
The masks, which share designs expressing UA’s connection to music and creativity, have been donated to the Kaiser Permanente’s medical offices in Scotts Valley and Watsonville.
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Top Photo: Terry Ramirez, of Universal Audio (from left), stands with Kaiser Permanente’s Brenda George and Adrienne Gaughan after delivering more than 1,000 masks to the medical staff at Santa Cruz and Watsonville locations.
Miguel Zafra makes masks at home for Universal Audio to distribute.
Rosarillo Carillo makes masks at home for Universal Audio to distribute.