{"id":25098,"date":"2020-04-08T10:10:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T14:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=25098"},"modified":"2020-04-08T10:10:08","modified_gmt":"2020-04-08T14:10:08","slug":"automakers-global-arsenal-of-health-fights-common-covid-enemy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/automakers-global-arsenal-of-health-fights-common-covid-enemy","title":{"rendered":"Automakers&#8217; global &#8216;Arsenal of Health&#8217; fights common COVID enemy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/03\/30\/PDTN\/29c45f28-5823-4140-a845-7d00718351d1-tdndc5-67q2i9uacsyjfq0i7s5_original.jpg?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Ford will produce ventilators at its Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, shown here.\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><p>Ford will produce ventilators at its Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, shown here.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Ford)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-1 p-text\">The Detroit automakers that quickly retooled America\u2019s factories to fight World War II with bombers, tanks\u00a0and bullets are now\u00a0rapidly ramping up to help the nation\u2019s health care\u00a0soldiers take on COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-2 p-text\">But unlike the global war\u00a0that split the world between Axis and Allied powers, World War C has united every nation against a ruthless virus. German, Japanese, South Korean, British\u00a0and Chinese automakers also are rushing to help tool up an\u00a0&#8220;Arsenal of Health&#8221; to fight the enemy with ventilators, face masks\u00a0and other medical devices\u00a0just like their Detroit rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">&#8220;The combination of manufacturing complexity at volume makes auto production unlike anything else in the world,&#8221; said Kelley Blue Book auto analyst Karl Brauer. &#8220;Once you have mastered those logistics, anything else you make will be easier. Automakers can quickly pivot to making ventilators at volume that are much less complex than automobiles.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The American arsenal has expanded outside Detroit, too, with such upstarts as electric automakers Tesla Inc. and the North Carolina-based Haas Formula One team also lending their engineering skills to the good fight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Nowhere is this joint spirit of innovation more apparent outside the United States\u00a0than in Britain\u00a0\u2014\u00a0which burned under the German Blitz in World War II and is suffering from rampant COVID-19 today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Britain also is\u00a0the epicenter of Formula One, the most advanced form of motor racing on the planet. Most F1 teams are based in Britain\u00a0where they have access to state-of-the-art engineering talent and facilities \u2014 not unlike Michigan, where many international automakers have engineering facilities because of\u00a0the deep talent\u00a0pool here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Seven F1 teams \u2014\u00a0including those funded by Germany\u2019s Mercedes-Benz, America\u2019s Haas, France\u2019s Renault\u00a0and Britain&#8217;s\u00a0Aston Martin\u00a0\u2014\u00a0have created \u201cProject Pitlane,\u201d which is dedicated to three workstreams to help the COVID-19 crisis in Britain: reverse engineering existing medical devices, scaling the production of existing ventilators, and rapidly designing and manufacturing\u00a0a new device for certification and subsequent production.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SnDnMCC5cv4\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/06\/PDTN\/c35114c7-668e-432b-8bbd-746e2f93cc13-AP20090377137738.jpg?crop=3500,2336,x0,y0&amp;width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"A female volunteer demonstrates the use of a CPAP device at UCL Hospital in London. Formula One team Mercedes has helped to develop a breathing aid that could keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care and ease some pressure on Britain's strained health service. (UCLH via AP)\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/06\/PDTN\/c35114c7-668e-432b-8bbd-746e2f93cc13-AP20090377137738.jpg?crop=3500,2336,x0,y0\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/06\/PDTN\/c35114c7-668e-432b-8bbd-746e2f93cc13-AP20090377137738.jpg?crop=3500,2336,x0,y0\" \/>A female volunteer demonstrates the use of a CPAP device at UCL Hospital in London. Formula One team Mercedes has helped to develop a breathing aid that could keep coronavirus patients out of intensive care and ease some pressure on Britain&#8217;s strained health service. (UCLH via AP)\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: James Tye, AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Just as General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. offer a unique ability to scale ventilator production with expansive facilities and supply chains, Project Pitlane is structured around F1 racing&#8217;s unique ability to respond instantly to technical demands \u2014\u00a0a crucial trait in keeping up in a sport that demands cutting-edge, space-age materials and construction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Project Pitlane is pooling the team\u2019s advanced F1 resources with a focus on rapid design, prototype manufacture\u00a0and skilled assembly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">F1\u2019s most famous company, Turin, Italy-based Ferrari SpA, has shut down due to the crisis. Still, the prancing horse is working with\u00a0Siare, Italy&#8217;s biggest hospital ventilator supplier\u00a0to use its idled Maranello factory to ramp up production as Italy faces one of WWC&#8217;s toughest battles against the virus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">In addition, the Agnelli family \u2014 controlling shareholders\u00a0of Ferrari as well as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV \u2014\u00a0has made an $11\u00a0million donation to the Italian Civil Protection Department to help it respond to local health needs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Another Italian exotic maker, Lamborghini, also is speeding a\u00a0transition\u00a0to medical device maker to help Italy\u2019s overwhelmed national health system. The Bologna-based supercar maker has converted\u00a0production plant departments to produce surgical masks and protective plexiglass shields for the local\u00a0Sant\u2019Orsola-Malpighi Hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">\u201cDuring this emergency, we feel the need to make a concrete contribution,\u201d\u00a0Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali said. \u201cWe will win this battle together by working in union, supporting those who are at the forefront of fighting this pandemic every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">In particular, Lambo\u00a0is using its skilled saddlery workforce \u2014\u00a0the men\u00a0and women who sculpt supercars&#8217; customized\u00a0interiors \u2014\u00a0to\u00a0produce\u00a01,000 masks daily. By using the 3D printers\u00a0automakers have helped pioneer to build\u00a0prototype body parts, medical shields are being produced at a rate of 200 units a day out of\u00a0Bologna\u2019s carbon fiber production plant and the R&amp;D department.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SnDnMCDzHF4\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/06\/PDTN\/5596698d-966c-4bc7-8e05-e18b18bdcd3f-AP20091519972934.jpg?crop=3809,2540,x0,y0&amp;width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"In this photo released on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, Automobili Lamborghini workers produce sanitary masks, at the Sant'Agata Bolognese factory, Italy. Lamborghini converted part of its St. Agata Bolognese plant to produce medical face masks to be delivered to the Bologna's St. Orsola hospital. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Automobili Lamborghini via AP)\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/06\/PDTN\/5596698d-966c-4bc7-8e05-e18b18bdcd3f-AP20091519972934.jpg?crop=3809,2540,x0,y0\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/06\/PDTN\/5596698d-966c-4bc7-8e05-e18b18bdcd3f-AP20091519972934.jpg?crop=3809,2540,x0,y0\" \/>In this photo released on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, Automobili Lamborghini workers produce sanitary masks, at the Sant&#8217;Agata Bolognese factory, Italy. Lamborghini converted part of its St. Agata Bolognese plant to produce medical face masks to be delivered to the Bologna&#8217;s St. Orsola hospital. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Automobili Lamborghini via AP)\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">In hard-hit Spain, national automaker\u00a0SEAT, a unit of Volkswagen AG, is adapting windscreen wiper motors to make automated ventilators for use in hospitals. The unique application was developed by 150 company employees over 13 prototypes before settling on a final production design.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The operation has transformed SEAT\u2019s Martorell assembly line from making Leon compact cars to medical devices, yet another example of the\u00a0industry\u2019s vast technical capability to innovate under the pressure of a global pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">\u201cIf ever there was proof of the need to have a healthy industrial\u00a0base in each country, this is your proof,\u201d said analyst Brauer. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u00a0was key to rescue the manufacturing footprint of the U.S. back in 2009 \u2014\u00a0automakers\u00a0continue\u00a0to prove their value today.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SnDnMCCe1rI\" class=\"story-asset oembed-asset\">\n<div class=\"story-oembed-wrap \">\n<div class=\"js-oembed story-oembed story-oembed-gannett-storylines story-oembed-type-rich\" data-oembed-type=\"rich\" data-oembed-provider=\"gannett-storylines\">\n<div data-asset-id=\"2875389001\" data-sitecode=\"PDTN\">\n<div class=\"content-package-wrap\">\n<div class=\"story-line-container\">\n<div class=\"story-line-content\">\n<div class=\"story-line-links\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"story-line-promo-image\"><picture class=\"story-line-picture-tag\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/03\/19\/PDTN\/100b848a-4317-4af0-af22-25601ea426e6-test_virus.jpg?crop=356,267,x1,y33&amp;quality=50&amp;width=480\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/03\/19\/PDTN\/100b848a-4317-4af0-af22-25601ea426e6-test_virus.jpg?crop=531,299,x0,y0&amp;quality=50&amp;width=750\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Once an automotive manufacturing\u00a0giant, Britain\u00a0has lost most of that base today. In\u00a0addition to its Formula One efforts, Germany\u2019s Mercedes-AMG High Performance powertrain\u00a0division has partnered with University College London engineers to develop\u00a0so-called\u00a0Continuous Positive Airway Pressure devices \u2014\u00a0CPAP for short \u2014\u00a0in less than a week to help suffering British\u00a0patients.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Typically used to help patients with sleep apnea, CPAPs help patients with respiratory infections breathe with oxygen to help them stay out of intensive care where they may ultimately need scarce ventilators. Like ventilators, CPAP devices are in low supply.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">German and Japanese companies have also mobilized for the fight \u2014\u00a0in North America.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SnDnMCDPOOk\" class=\"story-asset pullquote-asset\">\n<aside class=\"pull-quote\">\n<p class=\"pull-quote-item\">\u201cIf ever there was proof of the need to have a healthy industrial\u00a0base in each country, this is your proof\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"pull-quote-attribution\">Kelley Blue Book auto analyst Karl Brauer<\/span><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Volkswagen announced April 3 that it has partnered\u00a0with supplier Faurecia, a fabrics and materials supplier to\u00a0the brand,\u00a0to\u00a0produce 250,000 masks\u00a0and 50,000 gowns a week in a Mexican plant for global distribution to medical personnel in the U.S., Spain\u00a0and France. The first order of 70,000 masks and 5,000 gowns is destined for New York\u2019s Javits Convention Center, recently re-purposed as a COVID-19 field hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">With operations across North America, Honda has re-purposed 3D printers to manufacture visors for protective face shields. Toyota, with U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas,\u00a0also has a huge production footprint here and has revved up production of 3D-printed face shields this week for\u00a0distribution to hospitals in Houston, Dallas, Indiana, Kentucky\u00a0and Michigan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Also in the U.S., Tesla this week announced production of ventilators. Though renowned\u00a0for its Fremont, California, plant producing\u00a0the hot-selling Model 3 sedan, Tesla is partnering with ventilator-maker Medtronic\u00a0to make the breathing devices at its solar panel\u00a0facility in Buffalo. The facility will reopen\u00a0after New York\u2019s shutdown of non-essential businesses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ford will produce ventilators at its Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, shown here.\u00a0(Photo: Ford) The Detroit automakers that quickly retooled America\u2019s factories to fight World War II with bombers, tanks\u00a0and bullets are now\u00a0rapidly ramping up to help the nation\u2019s health care\u00a0soldiers take on COVID-19. But unlike the global war\u00a0that split the world between Axis and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25098"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25098"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25099,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25098\/revisions\/25099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}