The French tire specialist Michelin wants to contribute to the fight against Covid-19. Indeed, the manufacturer will produce surgical masks, reusable masks, protective visors and even respirators!
In France, the shortage of masks has emerged as a state scandal over the past decade. Risky professions in the health sector but others such as workers in wastewater treatment plants find it extremely difficult to equip themselves. While the Covid-19 epidemic has killed nearly 25,000 in our country, the population will begin its deconfinement this May 11, 2020. It will then be strongly advised to wear a mask outside your home, a fabric mask of course.
In this context, every gesture is obviously welcome and this article sheds light on the Michelin tire specialist. According to L'ADN, the French industrialist wants to fully contribute to the fight against Covid-19.
In collaboration with the Grenoble collective VOC-COV (willingness to organize against Covid-19), Michelin has developed a mask called OCOV® resulting from 3D printing. This one is reusable 100 times thanks to thanks to its five washable filters . We are talking about a cost of 28 euro cents per use. Thus, because of its longevity, the OCOV® mask is very economical and more ecological. According to the sources, the public price would still be between 15 and 30 euros, which still seems high compared to fabric masks, but relatively interesting compared to the FFP2 at three euros and above all not reusable.
A pre-series of 5,000 masks has already been produced, with a much more ambitious objective. Indeed, it is a question of producing one million by the end of May and five million by the end of June. Among the masks produced, a part will be offered to the Regional Health Agencies. You should also know that Michelin went into overdrive testing no less than five prototypes in just two weeks! Nevertheless, it seems that the design is not really to everyone's taste. Some refer to a pig's "snout" and others believe the mask resembles those used during the Great Wars. However, everyone will agree that being protected effectively is more interesting than looking good.
Let's mention the fact that Michelin will also produce surgical masks, at a rate of 400,000 per week . No less than ten factories in Europe will be active, including that of Clermont-Ferrand. The manufacturer will also produce approximately 10,000 protective visors polycarbonate for hospitals. In a second step, it will be a question of producing respirators but also parts intended for medical devices.
