Wednesday 15 April 2020

Ford scales up production of reusable gowns from airbag materials

Ford has announced plans to scale up production of reusable gowns manufactured from the material used to make airbags in Ford vehicles, in response to healthcare PPE shortages during the coronavirus pandemic.

The carmaker says production of gowns will reach 75,000 gowns a week by Sunday and scale up to 100,000 for the week of 19th April and beyond.

By 4th July, Ford-supplier Joyson Safety Systems is expected to cut and sew 1.3 million gowns, which are self-tested to federal standards and are washable up to 50 times.

David Claeys, President of Beaumont Health hospitals in Dearborn and Farmington Hills, said: “The need to protect our medical teams is heightened. Ford’s gown production could not come at a better time during this crisis.

"Our front line health care workers are working around the clock to treat Covid-19 patients and we need the necessary supplies to support them.”