In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturers of artificial respirators have increased their production. To avoid shortages, several car manufacturers, equipped to do so, are also starting to manufacture them.
As the global toll of Covid-19 continues to rise, with more than415,000 cases detected and more than 18,000 deaths related to the coronavirus, the shortage of medical equipment is starting to be felt more and more. We often, and rightly, talk about gloves and masks, but let's not forget about artificial respirators either. , which allow ventilation of the lungs in people with respiratory failure.
In order to meet the needs, the main manufacturers have organized themselves. Like the American company GE Healthcare or the Swedish giant Getinge, which have strengthened their teams and now aim to triple their production capacities. These same efforts are observed at the French Air Liquide or at the German Dräger. Despite everything, a little help from outside the sector would be welcome.
With that in mind, many auto executives have offered to help, like Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The businessman, after being arrested by an Internet user, indeed declared last week on Twitter that his factories will be used to produce artificial ventilation devices.
“Tesla makes cars with sophisticated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems , he added in a tweet, also recalling that “SpaceX manufactures spacecraft with life support medical systems .
In other words, the Tesla and SpaceX teams have the technical means to be able to manufacture respirators. On the know-how side, Elon Musk discussed this Sunday with the main engineers of Medtronic, a company specializing in medical equipment, with the aim of being able to manufacture efficient devices capable of being produced quickly.
The Americans Ford and General Motors, which have closed their factories until the end of March, have also been invited by the White House to organize themselves. Both manufacturers have obviously responded.
"As the largest vehicle manufacturer and largest employer of autoworkers in the United States, Ford stands ready to assist the administration in any way possible, including the possibility of producing fans and other equipment “, indeed declared Mark Truby, director of the communications of Ford.
“General Motors is working to find solutions for the nation during this difficult time and has offered to help. We are already exploring how we can potentially support the production of medical equipment like ventilators “said Jeannine Ginivan, spokesperson for General Motors, in a press release.
And again it didn't drag on. This Tuesday, Ford announced a partnership with GE Healthcare to create a simplified version of its artificial respirators intended for patients heavily affected by Covid-19. General Motors, for its part, said on Friday that it had entered into a partnership with Ventec Life, a medical equipment manufacturer based in Washington State.
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