Radio Prague International: Czech Firm Switches From Car Production To Helping Make Ventilators For Us. “Czech carmakers and associated industries have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Faced with this challenge, one family-run firm is now drawing on its expertise to fight Covid-19 itself, helping the production of much-needed ventilators in the US.”
manufacturing
Exclusive: Vaccine alliance finds manufacturing capacity for 4 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines (Reuters)
Reuters: Exclusive: Vaccine alliance finds manufacturing capacity for 4 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines. “An influential foundation focused on preparation and response to epidemics that is backing nine potential coronavirus vaccines has identified manufacturers with capacity to produce four billion doses a year, the group’s top manufacturing expert told Reuters.”
The Verge: 3D Printers Are On The Front Lines Of The Covid-19 Pandemic
The Verge: 3D Printers Are On The Front Lines Of The Covid-19 Pandemic. “The US continues to struggle to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, both at a state and federal level. So DIY efforts from academics, hobbyists, manufacturing experts, and professional firms have coalesced around COVID hotspots like New York City to meet the needs of health care workers and others on the front line of the response effort. Some of these initiatives are highly organized, involving partnerships across state lines to source materials and make use of industrial-grade manufacturing facilities. Yet almost all began in the living rooms of people with access to a 3D printer and the ingenuity to put together stopgap measures as existing supply lines struggled to keep up.”
FoodDive: Tracking coronavirus closures at food and beverage factories
FoodDive: Tracking coronavirus closures at food and beverage factories. “While food and beverage manufacturers scramble to keep up with demand as consumers stock their pantries, many now must also contend with coronavirus outbreaks in their factories. The reactions are varied. Some are shutting down plants indefinitely until all workers can be tested. Others have reduced production capacity. Several have temporarily closed to deep clean their facilities and configure their spaces for greater social distancing. Food Dive is tracking the status of operations of major manufacturers’ plants as they navigate the pandemic.”
Man of Many: Nike Adapts Manufacturing to PPE Face Shields and Lenses
Man of Many: Nike Adapts Manufacturing to PPE Face Shields and Lenses. “Nike knows a thing or two about producing personal gear, so turning their attention to personal protective equipment is a natural reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. The athletic gear giant partnered with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to start producing the personal protective equipment that frontline medical workers and others are in need of, including full-face shields and powered, air-purifying respirator lenses that can protect against the coronavirus.”
CNET: Ferrari banks on coronavirus testing and phones to restart production
CNET: Ferrari banks on coronavirus testing and phones to restart production. “The scheme starts with blood tests for workers, which works with a smartphone app. The blood tests will give workers a green light to return to work and show there’s no trace of illness. If the blood test flags a disease, workers will then receive a COVID-19 test. All the while, the app tracks those registered and lets other workers know if they’ve come in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. It should help isolate cases and quarantine those quickly and effectively.”
WPVI: Delaware County workers sleep at job for 28 days to make gear for health care workers
WPVI: Delaware County workers sleep at job for 28 days to make gear for health care workers. “In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, there’s a group of people sleeping at work for nearly a month to make equipment to help keep others safe. At Braskem America in Marcus Hook, workers are sleeping, eating and working at their plant for 28 days to make equipment for health care workers.”
Hartford Business: New website, grant program aim to link manufacturers with healthcare facilities in need
Hartford Business: New website, grant program aim to link manufacturers with healthcare facilities in need. “State officials in partnership with two of Connecticut’s largest business groups launched a website to match healthcare facilities seeking equipment with manufacturers looking to produce it during the COVID-19 crisis.”
Coronavirus: The US clothing firms now making gowns and gloves (BBC)
BBC: Coronavirus: The US clothing firms now making gowns and gloves. “In a normal year Michael Rubin’s athletic apparel factory in Pennsylvania would be ramping up for the start of baseball season, churning out team uniforms and clothing to sell to fans. Instead his company, Fanatics, has remade itself into a gown and mask manufacturer for hospitals facing shortages of protective gear as they fight the coronavirus. Fanatics isn’t alone. Thousands of companies across the US have responded to pleas for help from hospitals facing shortages of critical health supplies.”
TechCrunch: Free tool helps manufacturers map where COVID-19 impacts supply chain
TechCrunch: Free tool helps manufacturers map where COVID-19 impacts supply chain. “Assent Compliance, a company that helps large manufacturers like GE and Rolls Royce manage complex supply chains through an online data exchange, announced a new tool this week that lets any company, whether they’re a customer or not, upload bills of materials and see on a map where COVID-19 is having an impact on their supply chain.”
FlaPol: AIF, Space Florida and FloridaMakes team up to connect manufacturers with businesses
FlaPol: AIF, Space Florida and FloridaMakes team up to connect manufacturers with businesses. “The Associated Industries of Florida, Space Florida and FloridaMakes have teamed up to launch an online database for Florida manufacturers to connect with businesses in need of their products. Connex Florida was developed in the wake of Hurricane Irma for disaster risk mitigation, but its functionality is just as suited to the chronic woes of coronavirus pandemic as it is the aftermath of a storm.”
Vice: General Electric Workers Launch Protest, Demand to Make Ventilators
Vice: General Electric Workers Launch Protest, Demand to Make Ventilators. “On Monday, General Electric factory workers launched two separate protests demanding that the company convert its jet engine factories to make ventilators. At GE’s Lynn, Massachusetts aviation facility, workers held a silent protest, standing six feet apart. Union members at the company’s Boston headquarters also marched six feet apart, calling on the company to use its factories to help the country close its ventilator shortage amid the coronavirus pandemic.”
Exclusive: Ross Stores, Other Retailers Cancel Vendor Orders Following Coronavirus Hit (Reuters)
Reuters: Exclusive: Ross Stores, Other Retailers Cancel Vendor Orders Following Coronavirus Hit. “After closing stores around the world to curb the spread of the coronavirus, retailers are now telling some vendors to immediately cancel orders. On Thursday, discount store operator Ross Stores Inc sent a letter to its vendors, notifying them it would cancel all merchandise purchase orders through June 18 due to the impact the novel coronavirus has had on its business.”
CNN: James Dyson designed a new ventilator in 10 days. He’s making 15,000 for the pandemic fight
CNN: James Dyson designed a new ventilator in 10 days. He’s making 15,000 for the pandemic fight. “Dyson has received an order from the UK government for 10,000 ventilators to support efforts by the country’s National Health Service to treat coronavirus patients. James Dyson, the company’s billionaire founder, confirmed the order in a letter to employees shared with CNN on Wednesday.”
CNN: Luxury perfume makers Dior and Givenchy will produce free hand sanitizer for French health authorities
CNN: Luxury perfume makers Dior and Givenchy will produce free hand sanitizer for French health authorities. “Luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, the parent company of Christian Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy, wants to help French health authorities by manufacturing hand sanitizer and providing it to them for free. LVMH said it will use all the production facilities of its perfumes and cosmetics brands to produce large quantities of hydroalcoholic gel, or hand sanitizer, starting Monday.”
