Ford begins respirator production

Saturday, 28 March 2020

Ford is working with 3M, GE and UAW to produce medical equipment urgently needed during the pandemic

Ford is using its manufacturing and engineering know-how to help firms like 3M and GE Healthcare ramp up production of respirators, ventilators and other medical equipment and supplies urgently needed during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 100,000 face shields will be created per week, partly thanks to the carmakers in-house 3D printing capabilities.

'This is such a critical time for America and the world. It is a time for action and cooperation. By coming together across multiple industries, we can make a real difference for people in need and for those on the front lines of this crisis,' said Bill Ford, Ford's executive chairman.

Jacek unloads 3D printed medical face shield parts at Ford's Advanced Manufacturing Center.

'At Ford, we feel a deep obligation to step up and contribute in times of need, just as we always have through the 117-year history of our company.'

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Dave Jacek, 3D printing technical, wears a prototype of a 3D-printed medical face shield printed at Ford's Advanced Manufacturing Center.

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Ford is set to assemble more than 100,000 critically needed plastic face shields per week at a Ford manufacturing site to help medical professionals, factory workers and store clerks.

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Ford team members are working with 3M to increase the manufacturing capacity of their powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) designs and working jointly to develop a new design leveraging parts from both companies to meet the surge demand for first responders and health care workers.

This new respirator could be produced in a Ford facility by UAW (United Auto Workers) personnel.

To go as fast as possible, the Ford and 3M teams have been using off-the-shelf parts like fans from the Ford F-150's cooled seats for airflow, 3M HEPA air filters to filter airborne contaminants such as droplets that carry virus particles and portable tool battery packs to power these respirators for up to eight hours.

By using one of Ford's Michigan manufacturing facilities, 3M could boost production of the new PAPR potentially tenfold.

In addition, Ford and GE Healthcare are working together to expand production of a simplified version of GE Healthcare's existing ventilator design to support patients with respiratory failure or difficulty breathing caused by Covid-19.

These ventilators could be produced at a Ford manufacturing site as well as a GE location.

Finally, Ford's US-based design team also is quickly creating and starting to test transparent full-face shields for medical workers and first responders. The face shields fully block the face and eyes from accidental contact with liquids and when paired with N95 respirators can be a more effective way to limit potential exposure to coronavirus than N95 respirators alone.