A defence contractor in London is lending its manufacturing capability to the fight against COVID-19.
General Dynamics says it is now making 500 medical face shields per day, based on a design that was created at Western University. Production of the masks had begun at Western last month. According to the university, more than 11,000 of the face shields have been ordered since production began with 8,000 having been delivered to hospitals, medical offices, and health practitioners across Ontario. General Dynamics says it can expand production if the demand is there.
“We were looking for a natural fit to contribute in a positive way here in Canada and abroad during this global pandemic, and when we learned what Western was doing with medical face shields, we wanted to connect right away because it was a great idea and we knew we could help,” said John Ellison, Vice President and General Manager of General Dynamics Land Systems Canada.
Now that the design has been handed over from Western to General Dynamics, the company is sourcing its own materials for the masks.
“The strength of London is built on partnerships. That’s why I wasn’t surprised when General Dynamics joined this project and ramped up production so quickly,” said Peter White, Western’s Executive Director, Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships. “We’re so pleased to be working together on this project, which is obviously so important to everyone in the community.”
Health care providers looking to order medical face shields should contact Lee Smithson, Advanced Manufacturing Consortium Western’s Business Development Lead at lee@westernamc.ca
