Ford may no longer make cars in Australia, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still manufacture.
The blue oval will produce and donate up to 100,000 face shields for frontline medical workers that are needed during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. The shields are being produced at Ford’s Broadmeadows product development facility, that is the former site of its Falcon and Territory production lines but is now home to engineers and designers for the Asia-Pacific region.
The Ford team worked with the Victorian Government to test and develop the shields in order to meet their standards, and with that now approved production will ramp up immediately, with approximately 50,000 already assembled and ready for distribution.
Ford Australia president, Kay Hart, said while the process has been very different for the motor company, it was determined to help in the current situation.
“We said from the beginning of COVID-19 that any way we could help, we would help,” Hart said. “Producing face shields is certainly something new for us, but our innovation team and engineers were able to test a number of different designs in hospitals and with their input we have been able to get the face shield right for the people who will be wearing them.”
Ford Australia isn’t the only car maker helping during the COVID-19 crisis. In the United States Ford and General Motors worked together with General Electric’s medical division to produce ventilators, while in Europe Ferrari is building valves for respirators.
In Australia both Triple Eight Race Engineering and Erebus Motorsport have been working with officials to produce medical equipment needed during this outbreak.
Discussion about this post