Car companies' "hardcore" anti-epidemic: switch to ventilators like "tanks made in World War II"

By April 1, 15:00, more than 780,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 39,000 deaths, and confirmed cases have appeared in more than 200 countries and regions. At present, what is most needed in the world is epidemic prevention materials, among which ventilators are the most scarce. After the global car companies stopped production, more and more car companies began to switch to ventilators, masks and other epidemic prevention materials. The epidemic is still spreading rapidly, and the global autobots are also actively responding and fully participating in this "world war".

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The critically ill patients in COVID-19 must rely on ventilators to maintain their lives.

This is because when acute respiratory distress syndrome appears, only relying on ventilator to assist or replace breathing can ensure the survival of patients, otherwise it will cause the failure of respiratory system and important organs.

However, ventilators are expensive, usually more than $25,000, and ordinary hospitals are only equipped with intensive care units. When the number of critically ill patients in COVID-19 increases sharply, the few ventilators are even more in short supply.

According to the latest epidemic data, the country with the largest number of confirmed cases in COVID-19 in the world is the United States (more than 6,543.8+0.8 million cases), and Italy, which ranks second, has the largest number of confirmed cases in Europe (more than 6,543.8+0.8 million cases).

It is reported that there are 654.38+0.6 billion ventilators in the United States, and the national strategic resources are 654.38+0.27 billion. The American Hospital Association estimates that about 654.38+0.00 million Americans were infected with COVID-19 at the peak of the epidemic. With the rapid increase of confirmed cases, the demand for ventilators in the United States will be huge.

In Italy, according to the severe conversion rate of 6. 1% announced by WHO, only 6 100 ventilators are needed now, while there are only about 3,000 in Italy at present.

This is only the number of ventilators needed by critically ill patients in COVID-19, not counting the needs of patients with other diseases.

In this regard, Thomas Freeden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said: "Once it develops to the most serious situation, I am afraid that many ventilators are not enough."

British Health Minister Hancock has also been calling: "We will continue to buy ventilators, the more the better, there is no upper limit."

As a result, when car companies around the world have switched to epidemic prevention materials, the most "hard-core" car companies have begun to produce ventilation fans.

Among them, Ford and GM, two American automobile giants, will jointly produce 50,000 ventilators in Michigan in the next 65,438+000 days.

This time, Ford will cooperate with General Medical (GE? Healthcare) co-production of GE? /? Airon？ AE ventilator. According to the plan, after the production of 50,000 ventilators is completed, 30,000 ventilators will be produced every month as needed.

This is a simplified ventilator, whose design has been approved for production, which can meet the needs of most patients in COVID-19, and can operate at standard atmospheric pressure without air. Its production can be rapidly expanded to meet the growing demand in the United States.

In addition, Ford plans to assemble more than 654.38 million masks every week and use its 3D printing capability to produce components of personal protective equipment.

Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett (Jim? Hackett) said, "Ford and GE? The health care team worked tirelessly creatively and found a way to produce ventilators quickly. Through close cooperation with Michigan State University, we produce this ventilator in Michigan, which can help medical staff save lives. This is our top priority. "

According to Peter Navarro, Coordinator of the White House Defense Production Law (Peter? Navarro) said that Ford and GE medical teams are taking action in "Trump Time" to put much-needed ventilators into front-line anti-epidemic work.

When he said "Trump Time", he referred to Trump's recent tweet criticizing GM and urging "GM must immediately resume its factory in Lodztown, Ohio or other factories and start manufacturing ventilators, now! Ford, do the ventilator now! ! ! ! ! "

Peter Navarro said, "Just as Ford switched from making cars to producing tanks during World War II in the last century, the Ford team is working with General Electric? Health care cooperation, and use its excellent engineering and manufacturing capabilities to help the United States solve the most pressing problems. We pay tribute to this effort and expect the first batch of ventilators to go offline in Michigan in record time, where we will pay tribute to this' milestone'. "

At present, Ford's Rosenville factory produces ventilators almost all day, and 500 employees represented by the United Auto Workers Union (UAW) work in three shifts.

Ge? Kieran, President and CEO of Healthcare Group? Murphy said: "We commend Ford's efforts to provide manufacturing capabilities. With Ford's supply chain and production expertise, our deep understanding of the health care industry will help meet the unprecedented demand for medical equipment. We are encouraged that the company has joined hands to meet this collective challenge in an innovative way. "

In addition to American car companies, it is reported that PSA Group and Valeo Group are also providing production skills for factories and volunteers, helping France to increase domestic fan production, and strive to produce 6.5438 million fans by mid-May.

Mercedes-benz -AMG The F 1 team also cooperated with University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospital (UCLH) to develop new ventilators, and plans to realize mass production quickly. It is reported that the equipment has been approved and recommended by the British Drug Administration (MHRA) and has been used in the British National Health Service (NHS).

Mercedes-Benz also actively supports the production of medical equipment. With the help of 3D printers, they are producing individual components urgently needed by medical technology.

JorgBurzer, member of Mercedes-Benz Production and Supply Chain Management Committee: "With our many years of experience in 3D printing technology, we are ready to make our own contribution to the production of medical equipment. In the field of passenger cars, 3D printing is usually used for prototype construction and small batch production. Mercedes-Benz uses 3D printers to produce as many as 6.5438+0.5 million plastic and metal parts every year. Now, this ability can be used for medical purposes. From stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition molding (FDM) to selective laser melting (SLM), all common 3D printing technologies can be used. "

In Italy, Lamborghini, a super sports car manufacturer, also announced the production of epidemic prevention materials on March 3 1, and some factories of this company in Santagata-Bronn, Italy will start to produce medical surgical masks and plexiglass protective masks.

Lamborghini President Stefano Domenicali? Domenicali) said: "In such an emergency, we feel that we must do our part. Therefore, we decided to provide support to Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital. We have cooperated with this hospital for many years. We will unite and support people who are on the front line of fighting the epidemic every day, and the final victory belongs to us. "

According to official information, Lamborghini factory will produce 1000 masks every day, and the carbon fiber production workshop and the 3D printer of R&D department will produce 200 medical protective masks every day.

Lamborghini's headquarters building will also light three-color lights with the same color as the Italian flag every night to express the determination of enterprises and countries to fight the epidemic.

Of course, in addition to producing "hard core" materials, many car companies are also participating in the fight against the epidemic in more ways.

Toyota Motor North America donated $500,000 to buy medical supplies and provided free lunches for local students. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, employees of Toyota dealers will provide hundreds of hot dogs and hamburgers from 1 1 to 2 pm.

At the same time, several factories of Toyota Motor in North America are also manufacturing 3D printed masks, and actively seek partners to produce ventilators for epidemic prevention work in the United States.

The car company with the most humorous spirit should belong to the public. On the front page of official website, a modified Volkswagen logo is hung, and the V and W in the center of the circle are separated, indicating that people should keep enough distance during the epidemic.

Such a small measure has added some optimism to the tense anti-epidemic war and boosted people's morale from a new angle.

As Herbert Diss, Chairman of the Board of Directors of audi ag, said in an open letter: "At present, public life and many business activities have come to a standstill on a global scale. Our first task now is to support the anti-epidemic work as much as possible and save as many people as possible. We are trying to introduce our global influence, logistics chain and resources to deal with this global crisis, and thank all those who have contributed to it. After overcoming this crisis, we will restart all our business work. Thank you for your commitment and help. "

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.