News Release September 4, 2020
Made in Ontario 3S Face Masks receive Ontario Government support.
BRACEBRIDGE — With Ontario’s support, Smart Safe Science (3S) is producing the new SmartMask™. This lightweight facemask out performs traditional masks.
Designed and manufactured in Bracebridge Muskoka, the 3S SmartMask™ features a transparent shell with proprietary filtration technology. The mask uses disposable, replaceable filters to provide maximum airflow and minimum waste for landfills.
3S President Andrew Struthers led the SmartMask™ design team. “The market demands a safer product,” says Struthers. “The need for face masks and other PPE is not going away anytime soon. Facemasks in public spaces have become the new norm and disposable masks are just not good enough. Disposable masks don’t seal properly on the face and when worn for long periods of time become very uncomfortable and even abrasive. While homemade cloth masks are better than nothing, they offer no actual filtration.”
The Ontario Together fund recognized Smart Safe Sciences safer, lighter, breathable SmartMask™ with a 2 million dollar grant. This investment will help the company create 50+ local jobs and expand their full production capacity to produce 200,000 made-in-Ontario masks monthly. 3S will build up regional personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing capacity and help protect users in Ontario.
Details were provided Friday by Premier Doug Ford and Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“I always say we have the best and brightest minds anywhere in the world right here in Ontario,” said Premier Ford. “We’re proud to support innovative companies like Smart Safe Science who are making better masks for frontline workers. Thanks to their efforts, Ontario will reduce and eventually eliminate our reliance on any other country for these critical health supplies because we can make them right here in wonderful communities like Bracebridge.”
As part of the development of this mask and other safety products, 3S tapped into technical expertise at several Ontario universities, including Lakehead University, Laurentian University, McMaster University and the University of Toronto.
“Face masks have become an essential part of our daily lives. For our healthcare professionals and frontline workers who are battling COVID-19, prolonged use of face masks can bring fatigue and discomfort,” said Minister Fedeli. “That’s why we are supporting companies like Smart Safe Science so they can provide groundbreaking made-in-Ontario solutions. Through investments like this, we are strengthening our domestic supply chain for vital personal protective equipment and preparing us for any eventuality in the future.”
Smart Safe Science plans to purchase additional equipment and expand its facilities in Bracebridge. We look forward to hiring Ontario candidates for the new facility.