From left to right: Chris Curtis, Maintenance Manager, Colin Schmitchen, Process Engineer, Mark Hailstone, Tool Room Associate (Photo courtesy North Star Windows
& Doors)From left to right: Chris Curtis, Maintenance Manager, Colin Schmitchen, Process Engineer, Mark Hailstone, Tool Room Associate (Photo courtesy North Star Windows & Doors)
London

St. Thomas window manufacturer produces PPE for essential employees

A local window and door manufacturer is shifting its production process to include the assembly of personal protection equipment (PPE).

North Star Windows & Doors, located in St. Thomas, has partnered with various vendors to design and source the materials required to produce protective face shields for frontline workers in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Star manufactures energy-efficient window and door products with distribution in Canada and the United States.

“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 expansion of its production capabilities at the St. Thomas plant will allow for 3,000 face shields to be made a week.

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. After several prototypes, the design was finalized based on feedback from a local hospital to ensure usability and comfort.

“Safety, innovation, high-quality products, and social responsibility are all values that North Star Windows & Doors lives by every day of the year,” says Sheldon Dyck, general manager of North Star. “The current climate is no exception to doing what is right for our community. We are proud of our team and our partners for coming together to produce a product that will keep our hardworking frontline workers and their families safe.”

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