Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
Ventilator made from car parts
PaulAm:
GM partnered with Ventec to build high end critical care ventilators. They did not use or reuse car parts, they used a current proven design. They did use the logistical supply chain available to the auto manufacturers. In a little over a month they went from the idea to partner with Ventec to delivering the first units to a Chicago hospital the other day with 30K units to be delivered by August, I think. This was the combined effort of thousands of people and hundreds of suppliers that's not getting the air play they deserve. Over a thousand employees volunteered to be trained to assemble them in Kokomo.
I heard an interview with one small supplier, a die cast manufacturer who had been in business for around 100 years. In just over a week from the first phone calls they had received their dies for a piston central to the ventilator and had cast the first part. In the normal course of events it usually takes 10-12 weeks to get a die made. That was just one of 700 parts that had to be sourced.
The old line automakers do understand scale, it's really impressive when it works.
I hope somebody's taking notes, this will be a great story after the dust settles down.
drussell:
--- Quote from: PaulAm on April 20, 2020, 12:27:27 am ---I hope somebody's taking notes, this will be a great story after the dust settles down.
--- End quote ---
I hope you remember to include the fact that they're not building the originally intended multi-function VOCSN model, apparently due to being unable to agree on a palatable pricetag. The deal that GM ended up making with the government is for a much simpler, cut-down "V+Pro" ventilator-only model with less than 400 parts.
It seems that GM's is set to receive $490,000,000 for its' part of the contract for the 30,000 ventilators, or $16,333 per ventilator for GM's part. I know they are pricey machines at the best of times, but you need to remember that GM isn't exactly doing this out of altruistic concern for the citizenry (who also happen to be their potential customers.)
Between the cash and the positive marketing spin they're expecting to generate, it's pure gold. ;)
PaulAm:
GM is also converting a wharehouse, I think in Reno, to an assembly facility in conjunction with Hamilton AG Medical to double their production capacity in another month or so. Not sure what model that one will be, but it's another supply chain to build.
If you look for the stories you can find them, but Ford is the one pushing the PR blitz on how responsive they've been. Ford is working with GE Healthcare but it's not clear when their first units will come off the line.
It's hard to find data, but it appears the list on the V+pro is around $18,000, so GM is not really making a ton of money on these, if any (profit margin on a $70K pickup is around 40% as a comparison). Apparently the admin balked at the higher cost for the high end system so they settled on the simpler model. Still had 400 parts in it.
MK14:
--- Quote from: bd139 on April 06, 2020, 03:57:53 pm ---Hmm interesting. Time will tell what the deal is. I'm sure it'll turn into some scandal at some point....
--- End quote ---
It seems it is over now, as the ventilators, didn't quite succeed and/or were not needed (I've only rapidly glimpsed through the article).
It sort of shows, how difficult a challenge it really is, to suddenly start producing ventilators.
At least they tried, which is good.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52409359
--- Quote ---Dyson Covid-19 ventilators are 'no longer required
Dyson has said the medical ventilator it developed to help treat patients with Covid-19 is no longer required.
It began developing a device in response to a government appeal for firms to take part in a national effort to increase the number of ventilators.
But in a note to staff, founder Sir James Dyson said that demand for ventilators had been less than first envisaged.
The Cabinet Office said that tests on ventilators are still ongoing.
--- End quote ---
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page
Go to full version