Hohler, Label Aid change manufacturing during pandemic

SANDUSKY — Hohler Furnace & Sheet Metal has manufactured thousands of metal nose bridges for masks to help combat the virus. "We were throwing around ideas how to get involved in helping, and the sheet metal union out of Vermilion was looking for companies to make nose bridges," company president Rich Hohler said. "We knew this was something we could." The bridge is an essential component for the face masks healthcare providers wear while treating COVID-19 patients since it creates a seal around the nose. The company manufactured and donated about 7,000 nose bridges for mask makers. "It's pretty exciting to be able to help out during this crisis," Hohler said. "Our whole team feels honored to be a part of the story of people stepping up and making a difference." Another local company that stepped up and changed its production during the pandemic is Label Aid in Huron. The label printer saw a decline in business from its customers in the automotive and industrial industries, but an uptick from food and beverage clients. The company also experienced a steep increase in the number of hand sanitizer labels it printed. "We are seeing a lot of customers transition to hand sanitizer to help out," company president Darlene Crooks said. "We're thrilled to be able to help customers who decided to switch over their production line to hand sanitizer during the pandemic." The company created hand sanitizer labels for larger companies as well as local distilleries who started to develop hand sanitizer. "Many of them donated to local hospitals and communities," Crooks said. "We were happy to donate the labels in those cases." The company, however, does charge the client if they're selling the hand sanitizer wholesale.