……………….Starting Tuesday, 100,000 medical-grade surgical masks will be rolling off the assembly line daily. Once the second machine arrives, he will be able to produce 100,000 N95 respirators a day as well.
“Three weeks ago, I was walking the factory floor, and with the majority of my clients announcing closures, I was thinking about how I was going to keep everyone employed. And these people have been with me for so long, I knew that they had families and it was important to keep the family business running.”
Zanatta’s first customer was the Provincial Health Services Authority, with an order for 500,000 masks, followed by the RCMP with an order for 30,000. He is also fielding inquiries from across the U.S.
“We wouldn’t say no to them, but we will be filling our Canadian orders first,” said Zanatta.
Surgical masks and N95 respirators must meet strict guidelines, and Zanatta has been certified by Health Canada.
“It’s been a nerve-racking two weeks, and probably the most exciting two weeks of my life.”
Zanatta, who runs the business with his wife Julie, said the last three weeks have also been a lesson in the importance of community.
“My contact in China is a small business owner too — a husband and a wife, and two small children working just as hard as we are to produce the machines to help get this virus under control. What it highlights for me is how intertwined we all are — we are one people and one world.
While medical-grade masks are not recommended for the general public, Canada’s top medical health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday that as “an additional measure simple cloth masks can help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to others in places where physical distancing is difficult.