North Carolina-based Health Supply US, a medical supply manufacturer founded in 2020, is bringing a $150 million nitrile glove production facility to Greenville County that will create 600 new jobs and bring the manufacture of critical medical gear back to American shores.
The announcement came at the Greenville Area Development Corporation’s annual meeting June 6 before a packed ballroom at the Westin Poinsett, which included remarks from S.C. Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham, company leaders and state and local economic development officials.
The new operation is being spearheaded by Health Supply US subsidiary Glove One and will produce an estimated 4.3 billion nitrile gloves annually.
What are nitrile gloves?
Unlike latex gloves, which are made of natural rubber that protect from viruses and bacteria, nitrile gloves are made of synthetic rubber that also resists punctures and harsh cleaning chemicals.
The new state-of-the-art, 400,000-square-foot production and distribution facility for the gloves will be located at 1 Quality Way adjacent to the Beechtree Business Park off U.S. Highway 25 between I-85 and I-185.
The move is part of the company’s plans to bring the manufacture of critical healthcare supplies back to the United States as a matter of national security. It was inspired by lessons learned from supply chain disruptions at the height of the pandemic, said Health Supply US CEO Christopher Garcia.
“Nitrile gloves are a vitally needed medical item that keep our frontline health care professionals and first responders safe, an item that we simply cannot rely completely on international markets for our domestic supply in the future,” Garcia said.
