Local manufacturers produce medical gowns

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This article was published 11/05/2020 (1970 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three Winnipeg-based apparel manufacturers have been called into action to produce personal protective equipment needed by health-care workers across Canada amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crown Cap, Freed & Freed International, and MWG Apparel are among the 20 Canadian companies that will work with Logistik Unicorp, a Montreal-based company that recently signed an agreement with the Government of Canada to supply more than 11 million protective gowns over six months.

The three manufacturers will help produce Level 1, 2, and 3 washable and disposable medical gowns, all of which will be used within Canada, according to Logistik’s vice-president of sales.

“We said we have the expertise, we have the people, we can help. So we raised our hand,” Karine Bibeau said about Logistik’s agreement with the government.

“It’s encouraging, and we’re hoping it’ll create a new niche for the domestic and textile garment industry in Canada.”

Hartley Klapman, executive vice-president of MWG Apparel (1147 Notre Dame Ave.), shares Bibeau’s hope that this order will be a step forward for Canadian textile manufacturers.

“The reintroduction of medical gowns into the Canadian sewing industry will serve to create and preserve jobs. This particular Logistik contract is so large, not only will it preserve jobs that otherwise would not have been preserved, but it creates jobs as well by bringing that production out of Asia back into North America, back into Canada,” Klapman said.

MWG Apparel, which specializes in flame-resistant clothing, has committed to producing at least 100,000 units under the agreement, requiring many of its employees to return to work.

Fur hat manufacturer Crown Cap, located in Sargent Park at 1130 Wall St., will also be welcoming its employees back after the facility had been shut down for a number of weeks.

The company will gradually ramp up production of gowns and its usual items, said the sales manager.

“Our employees were willing and able to step up,” Cole Leinburd said.

“We welcome the ability to help in regards to this product, and we hope that overall we see kind of a shift of going back to made-in-Canada or made-in-Winnipeg, because there still are so many factories within Canada that are willing to help just like Crown Cap.”

Marissa Freed, president of Freed & Freed International (1309 Mountain Ave.), expressed some uncertainty, however, about whether this order will inspire increased domestic production in the future.

“It’s difficult because the infrastructure that exists overseas doesn’t necessarily fully exist in Canada, but I think right now (the government is) doing their best to use the resources we have available to use to the best of their abilities,” Freed said.

With more than 100 sewing machine operators in its workforce, Freed said the company will slowly welcome its employees back to its facility, keeping in mind health and safety concerns.