(2020.04.15) Auburn Hills, Mich.  Joyson Safety Systems (JSS), a leading global supplier of mobility safety systems such as airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels and electronic safety systems,is collaborating with Ford to produce reusable medical isolation gowns and respirator belts to provide urgently needed medical equipment and supplies for healthcare workers, first responders and patients fighting coronavirus.

JSS is utilizing airbag fabric to create the medical isolation gowns that can be washed and reused up to 50 times. The company is currently producing 75,000 gowns each week and will be producing 100,000 gowns each week after April 19. The company also is currently assembling and sewing respirator belts to assist Ford with the manufacturing of much needed respirators.

“Our Joyson Safety Systems team is committed to saving lives, even when that means shifting our focus from automotive safety to medical safety. We’re grateful to have this opportunity to help protect and save lives,” said Guido Durrer, President and CEO, Joyson Safety Systems. “Together with Ford, our team was able to create and test prototypes that met federal guidelines issued in response to COVID-19 and begin production within about a week – a truly remarkable effort from all parties.

Production of gowns began April 6 at five JSS manufacturing facilities across North America, including Highland Cheraw, SC. Manufacturing of the respirator belts, being produced at the JSS facility in Valle Hermoso, Mexico, began April 3.

All JSS employees working to manufacture the gowns and respirator belts are doing so on a voluntary basis. As a precaution, to keep its voluntary employees safe, the company has institutedsafe distancing protocols in its manufacturing facilities and is taking necessary precautions to maintain a clean, safe working environment.