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ktm solutions mechanical engineering, greenville sc

COVID-19 physical barriers: One size fits all?

The Need for Solutions

The last several months have found us all looking for prevention measures against COVID-19, from the world’s top research labs down to our own homes, offices, and classrooms. The CDC and OSHA have both provided guidelines on safest practices for our communities.

Following an increased demand for cleaning products and PPE, businesses in a variety of fields stepped in, many deviating from their standard line of work to offer a product that was in short supply, such as distilleries that began producing hand sanitizer.


A KTM Solutions modular kidney-bean sneeze guard in an early childhood classroom

Partitions and Sneeze Guards: Pros and Cons

One of the CDC-recommended safety measures involves installing physical barriers wherever people are unlikely to be able to maintain a distance greater than 6 feet from one another. To follow these protocols, businesses and schools alike have invested in partitions, sometimes even making their own from plastic sheets (like shower curtains) and PVC pipe.

While implementing makeshift fixes in response to an emergency is understandable and often necessary, the downside is that the solutions themselves often aren’t durable. Loose, fragile plastic sheets can tear easily and be difficult to clean thoroughly. On top of that, if the partition is too flimsy, it can move out of place, no longer providing a barrier at all.

Custom Designs

In response to these issues, we’ve been looking at how we could change gears from our usual line of work to help our community through this pandemic. When KTM started designing partitions for our own office, we found possibilities for countless applications, from desktop to free-standing to rolling barriers—and each of those options needed variety to suit any given environment.


Let Us Help

Since then, we’ve been developing custom designs for K-12 schools as well as businesses in our area. If you’re looking for partitions to follow CDC guidelines or meet local requirements for reopening, contact us and let our engineers develop a solution to fit your needs.


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About

KTM is a team of professional engineers that partners with manufacturing companies to overcome challenges and deliver the custom design solution and the expertise you need for your project.

Our Products & Services

KTM utilizes a staff of registered mechanical engineers (PE) that are qualified in the design and analysis of advanced machines, fixtures, lifting systems, and mechanical structures. We design and analyze for sufficient strength, optimal mechanical performance, and safety in accordance with industry standards and governmental regulations.

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