Ford Australia to produce and donate 100,000 face shields

By Wes Whitworth 2 Min Read

In another good news story from the Australian automotive industry, which has stepped up in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ford Australia will produce and donate 100,000 face shields to frontline healthcare workers during the outbreak.

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The prototype face shields, produced at Ford Australia Broadmeadows product design and development facility, have been tested in five hospitals. Ford Australia has continued to work with the Victorian government to refine and finalise the design of the masks and face shields to meet ongoing supply needs.

Kay Hart, President & CEO of Ford Australia & New Zealand, said Ford is ramping up production and distribution of the face shields.    

“We said from the beginning of COVID-19 that any way we could help, we would help. 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.

“With testing of the prototype shield now complete, we’re quickly ramping up production and working to dispatch the shields to medical workers and other facilities that need them.

“It’s great that our team has been able to quickly pivot to put their skills towards producing the face shield while also continuing their global work designing and engineering pick-up trucks and SUVs,” she said.

It’s fantastic to see parts of the Australian automotive industry able to produce vital healthcare and frontline medical personal protective equipment like face shields in the wake of the closure of all local vehicle manufacturing. While Ford no longer manufactures vehicles in Australia, the company continues to design and develop vehicles locally while developing technology that’s used across the automotive market and for Ford globally.


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