President Donald Trump is expected to tour and speak at Ypsilanti's Ford Rawsonville Components Plant Thursday, May 21. The visit is part of the president's national tour to thank businesses who aided in the effort to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment in the effort against the COVID-19 pandemic.
No political rallies have been announced in conjunction with the tour or this particular visit.
On March 30, Ford announced a collaboration wit General Electric (GE) Healthcare to build 50,000 units of the Airon Corp. GE/Airon Model A-E ventilator. Initially beginning work with Airon Corp. in Florida, Ford moved production of the units to its Rawsonville plant on April 20. This was done in order to "reach full production" to help match the "surging demand" of ventilators, according to announcement from Ford Media Center. By the end of May 13,500 ventilators are expected to have been built by Ford at the Rawsonville plant. By the end of July, Ford is aiming to build 50,000 units in order to help the federal government reach its goal of building 100,000 ventilators in 100 days. The units have been built "around the clock" according to Ford. 500 volunteer United Auto Workers (UAW) Ford employees working three shifts are involved in the effort.
According to The Oakland Press, Ford has shared all of its safety guidelines with the White House, including its "manufacturing playbook, employee pamphlet and self-assessment survey" ahead of the President’s visit. In recent weeks President Trump has visited facilities for Honeywell as well as Owens & Minor Inc. as both companies have assisted in the effort against the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing their facilities to create medical and personal protective equipment.
This visit is President Trump’s second visit to the Ypsilanti area. President Trump visited The American Center for Mobility at the former Ford Willow Run factory in March of 2017.
