Ford companions with GE Healthcare to provide 50,000 ventilators
Ford and GE Healthcare to Design FDA-Approved Airon Corp. Ventilator use
ford engine Companies, in collaboration with GE Healthcare, announced today that Michigan will begin producing a third-party ventilator with the goal of producing 50,000 of the vital units within 100 days and up to 30,000 a month thereafter as needed.
Ford will deploy its manufacturing capabilities to rapidly scale production, and GE Healthcare will provide its clinical expertise and Airon Corp.'s current ventilator design. license – a small, privately held company that specializes in high tech pneumatic life support products. GE Healthcare made the motor company design Airon Corp. attentively as part of the company's efforts to rapidly scale ventilator production to help clinicians treat COVID-19 patients.
The GE / Airon Model A-E ventilator uses a design that operates with air pressure without power and meets the needs of most COVID-19 patients. Production can be scaled up quickly to meet growing US demand.
"The teams at Ford and GE Healthcare, who work creatively and tirelessly, have found a way to quickly and significantly manufacture this much-needed ventilator," said Jim Hackett, President and CEO of Ford. "By manufacturing this ventilator in Michigan in close partnership with the UAW, we can help healthcare workers save lives, and that's our top priority. "
White House Defense Coordinator Peter Navarro, "The Ford / GE Healthcare team is moving in the" Trump era "to bring much-needed ventilators to the front of the Trump administration's widespread war against the corona virus."
“Just as Ford seamlessly shifted its manufacturing from auto to tank production during World War II, the Ford team worked with GE Healthcare to leverage its excellent engineering and manufacturing capabilities to help this nation volunteer to solve one their most pressing tasks to help solve problems. We welcome these efforts and look forward to the first fans rolling off the Michigan assembly line in record time – and we'll be there to honor this milestone. "
Ford expects to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4th. This will allow the US government to achieve its goal of producing 100,000 fans in 100 days.
The Ford plant in Rawsonville will produce the fans almost around the clock. 500 paid UAW volunteers work in three shifts. Airon Three Airon pNeuton Model A ventilators are currently manufactured in Melbourne, Florida. With full production, Ford plans to produce 7,200 Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilators per week.
"Since the days of Rosie the Riveter, UAW members have risen for the benefit of all of us in difficult times in the history of this nation," said Rory Gamble, President of UAW International. “Ford's announcement today that UAW employees will manufacture fans in Rawsonville follows this tradition. We work very closely with Ford to ensure that all CDC guidelines are followed and that we exercise caution at the factory. Ford and our UAW Ford members should be commended for being reinforced in these very uncertain times. "
The Airon-licensed Model A-E ventilator is the second collaboration between Ford and GE Healthcare. Last week, Ford and GE Healthcare announced separate efforts to create a simplified ventilator design from GE Healthcare. The combined supply of ventilators will help meet the growing demand for ventilators in the United States to fight COVID-19, each of which is well suited to meet time, production volumes, and patient care requirements.
"We welcome Ford's commitment to its manufacturing capabilities to rapidly scale Airon-licensed A-E model ventilation and arm clinicians to combat COVID-19," said Kieran Murphy, president and CEO of GE Healthcare. “Our deep understanding of the healthcare industry with Ford's supply chain and manufacturing expertise will help meet the unprecedented demand for medical devices. We continue to be encouraged at how quickly companies come together in innovative ways to address this collective challenge. "
GE Healthcare and Ford consulted with medical experts to determine the Airon license
The ventilator model A-E is well suited for patient care with COVID-19. The design is expected to meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing. The ventilator is designed for quick setup and makes it easier for healthcare workers to use. It can be used in an emergency room, during special procedures or in an intensive care unit wherever the patient is.
