Honeywell’s mask equipment is being auctioned in Phoenix
The company had previously announced that it would reduce manual production of N95 masks in Arizona due to a sharp drop in demand.
PHOENIX – Editor’s note: The video above is from an earlier broadcast.
Auctioneers are planning to sell Honeywell’s mask making equipment after the company began scaling back production in Arizona in recent months.
Heritage Global Partners announced Monday that it will be hosting a webcast auction on February 17 to sell mask making equipment used by Honeywell at the company’s Valley facility.
Honeywell told Bloomberg News last summer that production at the facility will be reduced and about 700 workers laid off as demand for masks has declined. The company told Bloomberg that it would be moving production to its automated factory in Chandler.
According to Heritage Global, Honeywell’s devices could be useful to another manufacturer looking to prepare for another surge in COVID-19 cases.
“The worrying surge in COVID cases, the mint condition of the facilities, and the widespread appeal of this type of equipment should be a great opportunity for the global buying community,” said David Barkoff, senior vice president of Heritage, in a press release.
Arizona reported 13,937 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, and the Arizona Department of Health urged residents to continue wearing masks and getting vaccinated to reduce transmission of the virus.
In March 2020, Honeywell announced it would expand production in Phoenix to produce more than 20 million N95 disposable masks each month. At this point in time, Honeywell has signed a contract with the state to produce 6 million masks over a period of 12 months for Arizona health workers.
After Governor Doug Ducey invited then President Donald Trump to tour the factory during a visit to the Valley in May 2020, there was a lot of fanfare about Honeywell’s mask production facility.
“I am grateful to Honeywell for stepping up and partnering with Arizona to bring these masks to our frontline doctors, nurses and first responders,” Ducey said in April 2020.
But demand for masks apparently began to wane as the pandemic dragged on, leading Honeywell to decide to reduce manual production.
“We appreciate the hard work and dedication these employees have shown to keep American frontline workers safe in the battle against the pandemic,” Honeywell wrote in a statement.
We are ready! In Phoenix, N95 mask production has started to support @WhiteHouse # COVID19 efforts and create 500 AZ jobs. pic.twitter.com/mNO1mDX0Jr
– Honeywell (@honeywell) April 30, 2020
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