General Motors ready to help build ventilators

General Motors in Michigan (above) has offered help to build ventilators. Photo: Supplied

After President Donald Trump said automakers in the USA had the “go ahead” to begin making ventilators for the coronavirus pandemic, General Motors has been the first car manufacturer to announce one of its parts suppliers is ready to help.

Hospitals and medical facilities in the USA have been reporting a shortage of ventilators. COVID-19 affects the lungs and can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome, in severe cases ventilators are a critical piece of medical equipment to help patients breathe and fight COVID-19. Last week automakers studied the feasibility of producing ventilators with Elon Musk receiving a direct plea from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Musk reached out to Medtronic to work together.

Parts supplier Meridian Lightweight Technologies Holdings is helping General Motors (GM) obtain six different compressor parts made of magnesium for an estimated 200,000 ventilators, according to Automotive News. Meridian says it can start production of the parts needed tomorrow.

GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. Photo: GM

GM announced last week that it had partnered with ventilator producer Ventec Life Systems, to increase production of ventilators. Ventec CEO Chris Kiple says the company is aiming to produce 1,000 machines per month (up from its usual 150 per month) in the next 90 days, and eventually, to produce 2,000 ventilators per month. While Ventec said it is planning to “leverage GM’s logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise” to build ventilators - it is unsure at this stage whether GM will use its plant or help with logistics at Ventec.

“GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in a statement that GM would “continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis.””

We are seeing a shift to a wartime-style of manufacturing, similar to efforts during World War II when manufacturers and factories produced war materials and equipment.