A protective mask (illustration) - Lexie Harrison-Cripps / SOPA Ima / SIPA

The tire manufacturer Michelin is embarking on the production of surgical masks for its employees and health personnel, the French group said on Wednesday. Among the ten sites selected are those of Combaude and Ladoux in Clermont-Ferrand, headquarters of Michelin, as well as those of Olsztyn in Poland and Zalau in Romania.

We will also produce around 400,000 units surgical masks per week in Europe and the US to meet the needs of employees and the communities in the countries / regions where the Group is based. Fight against # Covid_19. pic.twitter.com/PWbmKZNpGC

- Michelin (@ichelin) April 6, 2020

After "an initialization phase", the manufacturer plans to produce "eventually, each week, in its workshops or in coordination with partners or subcontractors, nearly 400,000 category 1 surgical masks". European capacity "will be reinforced in the following weeks thanks to the deployment of similar initiatives in North America," said Michelin in a press release.

Production of sterilizable visors

"At the request of several French hospitals", the group has also started production of sterilizable visors. He plans to coordinate "the outsourcing of 10,000 visors" from Monday. With these initiatives, the group aims “to actively participate in the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Michelin also recalls having participated in the production of a reusable mask, developed by a Grenoble collective of researchers and manufacturers, with the ambition of manufacturing 5 million per week by the end of June. Finally, the manufacturer is in the process of relaunching the production of three French factories, despite the reluctance of unions, after having implemented reinforced health protocols.

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  • Covid 19
  • Michelin
  • Coronavirus
  • Economy