- February 1, 2025
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In the span of a month, Hudson Technologies saw production for a small cylindrical metal component increase from 200 parts to 4,000.
It's a part the Ormond Beach manufacturer has made for several years for a Colorado customer. Before COVID-19, all they knew was that the cylinder was a component of a virus detection machine, said Scott Roudebush, Vice President of Operations at Hudson Technologies. But the phrase "virus detection" has taken on a new meaning in 2020, and that cylinder makes up the chamber in the machine in which health care professionals test people's swab samples for coronavirus.
“We’re not huge contributors in the direct fight, but we are doing a little bit," Roudebush said.
The company hasn't been gravely impacted by the pandemic. Roudebush said that, while 2% of its customers have shut down because of COVID-19, the majority are still keeping up with their usual production demands. Some have decreased demand for Hudson's Technologies' deep drawn metal enclosures and stampings, and some have increased demand. By and large, Roudebush said it's been "business as usual."
“We’re still going strong," he said. "Orders have still been coming in at the usual pace. My fear is that if this continues to go on a whole lot longer, that we’ll probably start seeing more customers slowing down.”
Hudson Technlogies serves a few different markets, including manufacturing parts for medical implantable devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Some surgeries calling for these devices are considered elective, and so production for materials has slowed down a bit, Roudebush explained.
In March, Ormond Beach's Economic Development Director told the Ormond Beach Observer that Hudson Technologies serves companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic and Boston Scientific with components for medical devices.
"Even though COVID-19 is front and center, some of these life-saving procedures are still necessary and they’re filling that need," Rademacher said.
Hudson Technologies was first founded in Hudson County, New Jersey in 1940. The Ormond Beach facility off North U.S. 1, which spans 110,000 square feet, was built in 1969. The company has been headquartered in Ormond since 1991.
Aside from parts for medical devices, Hudson Technologies also manufactures products for the military and defense market, such as aircraft components, and Roudebush said that hasn't been impacted by the pandemic.
“We like to tell people that we fight terrorism as well," he said. "Might be a little bit of a stretch, but we’re certainly helping supply the folks that are.”
But the most important role the company plays in this pandemic? Roudebush said it's making sure their 250 team members, half of whom live in Ormond, stay healthy. So far, no one on staff, including immediately family members, has contracted COVID-19.
Roudebush said half of the office staff is working from home. Break and lunch schedules have been altered to minimize chances for close contact. Team members have masks on hand and surfaces are cleaned often.
Since the start of the pandemic, Hudson Technologies has hired 13 people, and the company is still looking to hire another 10.
“I think we give people a safe place to come to work — to grow their career — and a good reason not to leave; go somewhere else to get a good job," Roudebush said.
