Marelli social support activities related to COVID-19 in Japan

May 22, 2020

Around the world, Marelli has put in place a number of activities aimed at protecting its people and supporting local community efforts against COVID-19. As part of the ongoing commitment to fight against the pandemic, Marelli today announces a number of new initiatives in Japan utilising its expertise, facilities, equipment and professional skills as a leading global automotive supplier, and relying also on the involvement of its subsidiary Marelli Machine Works Corporation (Hiki-gun, Saitama Prefecture).

First of all, to help fill the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers in Japan, on April 24th Marelli has begun manufacturing face shields, exploiting its manufacturing know-how and technologies, including the use of existing production lines, 3D printers and other company equipment. Face shields are provided for free to healthcare professionals, who are working on the front lines in Japan. The company will be producing approximately from 600 to 1,800 units per day in its plant in Yoshimi (Hiki-gun, Saitama Prefecture). Shipping started on May 3, Marelli plans to provide 2,500 face shields by mid-June 2020.

Following the request from the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, a regional bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Marelli is working with Metran Co., Ltd. (www.metran.co.jp) on mass production of easy-to-use, effective, robust and affordable emergency ventilators. Marelli has promptly provided help, especially in response to the difficulty in procuring some components and the gap between Metran’s production capacity and global demand and has dispatched its experts, bringing to the project its know-how and experience as a global industrial player in the fields of production management, procurement, development and production technology. Marelli is also exploring the possibility to further support Metran production, with a possible outsourcing in its Kodama Plant (Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture). Marelli believes that the initiative is a helpful contribution to the global ventilator demand.

Finally, starting from May 25th, Marelli will also start producing face masks for its own employees, using the existing clean rooms in Yoshimi Plant. Being able to self-produce the masks needed for its workers, this is another way to contribute in limiting the shortage of personal protective equipment in the market, while further enhancing employees’ health and safety. The company is planning to produce about 3,000 to 9,000 masks per day. Marelli is also considering the production of masks specially designed for the summer season, which offer both splash prevention and comfort, even under high temperatures and humidity in the summer.

Throughout the COVID-19 emergency, Marelli has implemented a wide series of measures and initiatives across its global business, and will continue to do so, in order to best ensure the health and well-being of employees – which is the company’s number-one priority – and support its customers. The company is also committed to supporting local communities, exploiting its production technologies, facilities and human resources know-how.