North Star Windows & Doors shifted production processes so that it can manufacture up to 3,000 face shields per week. The company partnered with various vendors to design and source the materials required to produce protective face shields for frontline workers in the community, such as medical practitioners, personal support workers, and even factory employees who have close human contact.
“North Star has been supporting the COVID-19 situation by repurposing some of our assembly lines into producing facial protection equipment for the community,” says Glenn Schmitchen, engineering manager. “At the start of the outbreak, the Engineering and Maintenance team began to brainstorm how we could support frontline efforts by leveraging new capacities in cutting, existing raw materials, and like-minded suppliers to quickly produce a good that was in need. The result is a PPE product that is effective, affordable, and easily accessible.”
The face masks feature Lexan, the clear plastic for the shield, manufactured in Ontario and supplied by Polymershapes; a headband made from SuperSpacer, a silicone product for windows, supplied by Quanex IG Systems in Cambridge, Ohio; and a forehead pad from modified patio door roller shim, purchased from Adev Profom Inc. in Laval, Quebec. Materials were secured at a reduced cost in order to be able to offer the final product at a lower cost to increase accessibility for organizations.
The face shields were made to Federal Government Guidelines for both material and size. The design was finalized based on feedback from a local hospital to ensure usability and comfort, according to the company.
