One industry executive likened the partnership to 'bringing in the cavalry.'
Three of the nation’s largest companies will team up to mass produce medical equipment to fight the novel, repurposing existing parts and hundreds of workers in a wartime-like battle against the outbreak that has kneecapped the global economy and brought much of the country to a standstill.
Equipment shortages have left many medical professionals working with substandard protective gear, raising concerns that doctors will be forced to ration care and potentially lifesaving technologies as cases surge.Businesses large and small have recalibrated as the public health and economic crises have raged, moving outside their lanes to produce new products or partner with other businesses to fill supply chain and product holes.
“This is like bringing in the cavalry to say, ‘Okay, where can we double down to make things go faster and bigger?’” Mike Kesti, global technical director of 3M’s personal safety division, said in a phone interview.The company will repurpose fans used to cool seats in F-150 pickups, portable tool battery packs and 3M high-efficiency particulate air filters to make powered air purifying respirators, or PAPRs, used to protect health care workers.
The companies do not have a timeline for when they’ll be able to scale up production, and any expanded manufacturing processes would still have to clear regulatory hurdles, Kesti said.Officials from nearly every level of government have called on businesses to aid in the fight against outbreak. President Trump has raised the possibility of using the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to compel the private sector to step up the manufacturing of medical equipment.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ford is working with 3M and GE to make respirators and ventilatorsFord announced Tuesday that it's working with 3M and GE Healthcare to produce medical equipment and protective gear for healthcare workers to help address shortages in the fight against the coronavirus.
Read more »
Ford joins 3M, GE in speeding up ventilator, respirator productionCarmaker Ford Motor Co on Tuesday jumped into the emergency push by major U.S. m...
Read more »
Ford joins GE, 3M in speeding up ventilator, respirator productionCarmaker Ford Motor Co on Tuesday jumped into the emergency push by major U.S. m...
Read more »
Ford Will Work With 3M And GE To Make Respirators And Ventilators To Address Shortages During Coronavirus PandemicFord announced today that it will be working with 3M and GE Healthcare to produce respirators, ventilators and face shields to address shortages in the treatment of coronavirus patients
Read more »
3M CEO: Our medical masks should not be showing up in storesEvery respirator mask that's available right now should be going to a healthcare worker on the front lines, caring for coronavirus-infected patients. They should not be sold in stores to consumers, said 3M CEO Mike Roman in a CNBC interview Monday.
Read more »
Here's What GM And Ford Can (And Can't) Do To Help With VentilatorsGM and Ford aren't about to start churning out ventilators, but their suppliers could make a difference.
Read more »