April 24, 2020
Province Highlights Adaptability in the Fight Against COVID-19
– – –Companies and Organizations Retooling to Help Keep Manitobans Safe: Helwer
The Manitoba government is saluting Manitoba-based companies and organizations who are using their ingenuity in the fight against COVID-19, Central Services Minister Reg Helwer announced today.
“Our government has put out a call to any business or group in Manitoba which can retool and help us keep Manitobans safe and healthy,” said Helwer. “The response has been outstanding and demonstrates our province’s community spirit and resourcefulness in working together to fight COVID-19.”
Dozens of businesses and organizations across Manitoba have adapted operations to help provide the province with much-needed medical supplies. Some examples include:
• The Winnipeg location of Winpak, a firm that manufactures and distributes packaging materials and machines, answered the call for the production of 100,000 protective face shields. The Winpak division team in Winnipeg sprung into action with a synchronized effort between departments to find the appropriate materials to make prototypes. Winpak also enlisted other local vendors including Sur Seal Packaging, Hillary Production Machining and MacDon Industries to provide additional materials and labour to assist in assembling all the components required for the face shields. Starting April 27, Winpak will delivering 10,000 face shields per week to the Manitoba government. These shields will then be distributed to front-line health-care workers.
• Icon Technologies of Winkler has retooled its facility, which normally produces after-market RV/motorhome parts and custom plastic products, and are now producing much-needed face shields for the health-care system. With a sharp drop in demand due to COVID-19, Icon was facing the possibility of having to lay off most of its 60 employees. By transitioning to the manufacturing of face shields, it has been able to keep its entire workforce employed with a production level of up to 6000 shields per day. These shields are being supplied to Manitoba facilities and other neighbouring jurisdictions as well.
• Decker Colony in western Manitoba is one of a number of Hutterite colonies that have collectively produced and shipped an estimated 30,000 fabric-based masks for health-care facilities and other organizations and groups across Manitoba. These colonies have also produced other fabric and plastic-based products including gowns, ear savers and surgery caps. In one instance, Seven Oaks General Hospital supplied 30 bolts of cloth, which was used to make 1,000 hospital gowns. In addition to health-care facilities, products supplied by Manitoba Hutterite colonies have also been distributed to a number of First Nations across southern Manitoba, a women’s shelter in Brandon and the Kidney Foundation of Manitoba.
“These are just some of the many examples of Manitobans finding creative solutions to help combat COVID-19,” added Helwer. “I want to extend sincere thanks to all the businesses and organizations who have joined this effort and invite others that may be able to retool operations to consider doing so. By working together, we can help keep Manitobans safe and healthy.”
The Manitoba government continues to call on manufacturers, businesses and other organizations to assist in procurement efforts.
The province is asking manufacturers or businesses to visit the COVID-19 portal at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/business/index.html if:
• they can rapidly scale up production or retool manufacturing lines to develop products made in Manitoba to help in the fight against COVID-19; or
• they have a stock of personal protective equipment that is not being used due to closures and physical distancing.
In addition, Manitoba businesses can donate unused personal protective equipment supplies in original packaging, clean and in useable condition. More information can be found at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/supply-donations/.
For more information about COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19 and a comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html.
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