- Ford, with design and testing consultation from 3M, and
approval from the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH), begins shipping urgently needed powered
air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)
- Designed and developed from idea to delivery by Ford and 3M in
fewer than 40 days, the Ford-built PAPRs will help meet a surge in
demand for personal protective equipment due to COVID-19
- State of New Jersey places order with Ford for 500,000 reusable
gowns for health care workers as weekly production reaches 200,000
per week and more than 400,000 have been shipped around the United
States
The first Ford-built powered air-purifying respirators,
developed in close collaboration with 3M, are on their way to help
protect health care workers fighting COVID-19.
Since late March, Ford has been working with 3M to create
urgently needed PAPRs, using design guidance from 3M and
off-the-shelf parts, like vehicle ventilator fans and power tool
batteries. In a separate effort, 500,000 reusable medical gowns
distributed by Ford will soon be on their way to the state of New
Jersey.
“Ford could not stand by while health care workers in this
country placed their lives on the line to help others without even
having proper protection,” said Jim Baumbick, vice president, Ford
Enterprise Product Line Management. “That’s why we kicked off an
all-out sprint to protect those who are so selflessly helping
patients afflicted with this terrible virus.”
“We are dedicated to helping support and protect the health care
workers fighting COVID-19,” said Bernard Cicut, vice president, 3M
Personal Safety Division. “We thank Ford for partnering with us to
quickly develop and deliver more of these critical health care
supplies to the heroes working on the frontlines of this
unprecedented health crisis.”
3M is a leading provider of personal protective equipment,
including powered air-purifying respirators. Demand for 3M PAPRs is
exceeding supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through partnerships
with companies like Ford and others, 3M plans to increase capacity
of its own PAPRs by ten-fold within the next several months.
Moving fast
Ford and 3M have worked closely with Ford’s automotive supply
chain to progress the new PAPR from idea to product in fewer than
40 days.
Ford’s Product Development team moved quickly to design the new
PAPR, combining vehicle air conditioning expertise with 3M’s
knowledge of medical devices. Hand-drawn concepts of the Ford PAPR
were created one day after starting the project. Ford’s engineers
also leveraged vehicle seat trim expertise to design the PAPR hood.
In parallel, Ford’s Advanced Manufacturing team rapidly prototyped
the PAPR using 3D printing, while the Ford Purchasing team worked
with suppliers to procure and produce components and the Ford
Manufacturing team designed the production process. Assembly lines
and production of PAPRs started within three weeks of the initial
request.
The PAPR includes a hood and face shield to cover health care
professionals’ heads and shoulders, while a high-efficiency (HEPA)
filter system provides a supply of filtered air for as long as 8
hours. The air blower system – similar to the fan in the Ford
F-150’s ventilated seats – is powered by a rechargeable, portable
battery, helping keep the respirator in constant use by first-line
defenders.
Approximately 90 paid UAW volunteers have assembled more than
10,000 PAPRs at Ford’s Vreeland facility near Flat Rock, Mich.,
with the ability to make 100,000 or more.
One of the proud UAW workers is Michele Strong, a team leader
volunteering in Ford’s Vreeland facility. Now at almost 43 years
with the company, Strong has worked in both Flat Rock Assembly
Plant and the Rouge complex. Strong maintains a perfect attendance
record – she wasn’t about to stop now.
“I’m proud of all of the vehicles I’ve help build over the
years, but this is something totally different,” Strong said. “I’m
up for this experience to help the world – to help the situation
we’ve got. A lot of friends ask me, ‘Are you really going to do
this?’ and I say, ‘Yes. It’s the right thing to do.’”
The 3M and Ford development team worked closely with the U.S.
CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. NIOSH provided
timely guidance to encourage the development of PAPRs to help
respond to the COVID-19 emergency. Ford has achieved temporary
NIOSH approval under its limited-use protocol to respond to the
COVID-19 public health emergency.
More than 10 companies from across Ford’s automotive supply
chain are providing new and off-the-shelf parts for use in the
PAPRs. Components include hood tops for the wearer’s head and
shoulders, filters and fans for supplying filtered air, power
electronics, switches, foam seals and more.
Shipping to customers
Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., is the first
customer to order and take delivery of the Ford-built PAPRs.
“We are very grateful to Ford and 3M for this shipment of
air-purifying respirators,” said Steve Schaefer, senior vice
president, Support Services, Virginia Mason Medical Center. “This
important equipment will help ensure the safety of our patients,
doctors, nurses and other members of the Virginia Mason care teams
during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
3M will sell and distribute the newly designed Ford Limited-Use
Public Health Emergency PAPR through 3M-authorized distributors to
maximize speed and efficiency in deploying these technologies to
heath care workers. Ford-built PAPRs also can be ordered directly
from Ford.
3M will provide technical support for health care workers using
the new PAPRs. 3M’s authorized distributors moved exceptionally
fast to make these products available for order within days.
3M and Ford will donate any profits they earn from the sale of
the PAPR to COVID-19 related nonprofit organizations.
Gown Deliveries Grow
Washable gown deliveries are rapidly growing as hospitals and
medical services seek reusable protection for health care workers.
The gowns have been self-tested to federal standards and are
washable up to 50 times.
Ford suppliers are now producing 200,000 gowns a week, and more
than 400,000 gowns have been shipped by Ford to medical workers
around the country.
The state of New Jersey has also placed an order for 500,000
reusable gowns.
Project Apollo
Inspired by the go-fast effort in 1970 to help NASA’s
disaster-stricken Apollo 13 astronauts, Ford’s Project Apollo team
has undertaken a variety of efforts in the fight against COVID-19.
The company is making and supplying critically needed PPE and
health care equipment, including more than 12 million face shields,
ventilators in collaboration with GE Healthcare, medical masks for
its workforce, and washable gowns for hospital and medical
workers.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn,
Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a
full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and
Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford
Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in
electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving
services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately
188,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its
products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit
corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200506005563/en/
Mike Levine Ford Motor Company 313.806.1711
mlevine5@ford.com
Ford Motor (NYSE:F)
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