Ford to make 100K face shields in Windsor, Ont., to aid in COVID-19 fight

Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. says it has started production of 100,000 face shields in Windsor, Ont., in an effort to help protect Canadian medical personnel and first responders on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The automaker said in a news release late Monday that it is working closely with the Ontario and federal governments to distribute the face shields throughout the province, and across Canada. Shipments are scheduled to start this week.

“Ford of Canada has a long history of supporting Canada and its communities in times of need,” Dean Stoneley, president and CEO, Ford Motor Co., of Canada Ltd., said a joint statement with the union, Unifor. “By repurposing our production facilities in Windsor to meet the urgent demand for face shields, we can help protect the lives of our heroic health-care professionals and first responders as they continue to treat the most vulnerable among us.”

A Ford spokesperson said the "initial donation of 100,000 face shields" will be made at the Windsor Engine plant, which normally produces 6.8-litre V10 two-valve and three-valve engines.

Neither Ford of the union said how many employees will be needed to make the shields.

“I am incredibly grateful to our members at Ford in Windsor for doing a tremendous service for their community and their country during this national emergency,” Unifor President Jerry Dias said in the statement. “I commend Ford for working with Unifor to ensure that strict health and safety protocols are in place that will ensure our members can manufacture badly needed medical supplies and return home safely to their homes and families.”

The automaker said that at the advice of government and health officials, Unifor and Ford of Canada remain in continuous communication at the national and plant level to ensure all safety actions and precautions are taken to help keep workers and their families protected.