17.04.2020
Covid-19 positive actions update
We have received further examples how our industry is helping with the Covid-19 outbreak following
‘the good in bad times’ post last week.
Genie has started producing medical equipment for the Overlake Medical Centre which is located close to its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Following a meeting with the hospital to understand its needs, Genie will start production on up to 5,000 face shields in cooperation with supplier, Allegis. The company has also developed a process for manufacturing face coverings using material provided by the hospital and a heat sealing process to create seams and pleats, while Genie engineers have used the company’s 3D printing capabilities to make custom parts which allow critical hospital PPE to be put back into service quickly.
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Genie has started producing medical equipment for the Overlake Medical Centre
Heavy lifting specialist Sarens has donated protective masks to Sint-Blasium hospital in Dendermonde and Sint-Augustinus hospital in Antwerp – both of which are close to the company’s headquarters in Wolvertem, Belgium.
James Morley, an electronics engineer at JCB, has converted his garage into a mini production line to produce personal protective equipment. Having started with a run of 20 visors, he has now begun to make components to convert snorkelling masks for use with respirators or ventilators. He is also prototyping a new headband that fits on the back of the head rather than on to the back of ears to make face masks more comfortable for medical staff to wear.
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JCB's James Morley set up a production line in his garage
Inspiring by Morley’s efforts JCB has re-opened its Innovation Centre in Rocester, UK, to allow a team of volunteer employees to produce medical grade visors. So far they have produced 50 visors for distribution to surgeries in the Rocester and Uttoxeter area. With the visor material now exhausted however, the volunteers are now concentrating their efforts on producing hundreds of visor head bands to send to a Warwickshire company for final assembly.
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(L-R) JCB's Joe Mumby and Joe Bagley with visors made at JCB's Innovation Centre
Fire and recovery vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer has developed its own protective face masks, using components from its firefighting helmets, including the helmet harness which can be adjusted in multiple directions.
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Rosenbauer's newly designed face masks use components from its firefighting helmets
Following Point of Rental’s decision to offer electronic hands free signature products free of charge, the software provider has added an eSign & Pay function to the system in order for users to capture signatures and payments in a single transaction.
Italian spider lift manufacturer Palazzani - which is located in the northern part of Italy which has been heavily affected by the coronavirus - has supported its local community by donating towards the AiutiAMObrescia (WeHelpBrescia) fundraising campaign. So far more than €230,000 has been raised for Brescia’s public and non-profit hospitals.
Zhang
I understand this is supposed to be a "the good in bad times" story but this was posted literally 1 day after Genie laid off roughly 1/3 of their staff, including the engineers that used that 3D printer (some teams are down to half staff).
-former Genie employee
Sherm
The efforts of these people demonstrate how tough times such as this world-wide pandemic can bring out the best ideas talent and skills of many who see the big picture and realize they can make a difference for improvement and achievement within the occupations and companies they serve.