PSA Group along with Valeo aids France ventilator production

KUALA LUMPUR: PSA, the French automaker, along with Valeo, an automotive supplier, will help increase the production of ventilators that’ll help patients with breathing problems due to coronavirus. They will be working together with Air Liquide Medical Systems, a ventilator manufacturer, and will provide factory space, volunteer workers, and technical know-how. Together they aim to make 10,000 ventilators by mid-May.

Air Liquide, Chairman, and CEO, Benoit Potier, said, “In a context where each new respirator produced can save a life, Air Liquide is currently tripling its production. Today, we have decided to go even further by taking up the challenge of producing 10,000 respirators in 50 days, with, gathered around the teams of Air Liquide, Groupe PSA, Valeo, Schneider Electric and many other partners. In the face of adversity, this approach illustrates the best of French industry, from major international champions to small and medium-sized businesses.”

The ventilator’s medical components will be produced at PSA’s Poissy factory, while the final assembly would take place as Air Linquid’s Antony situated factory. As for the volunteer workers, 50 will be stationed at the Poissy factory and another 50 workers at PSA’s technology centre at Velizy.

Valeo, on the other hand, will be providing R&D support, mechanical, plastics, and electronic technologies. It will also put a few of its purchasers in charge of the procurement process and supplier management. Also, Valeo engineers will help in setting up processes and training. According to a report from Automotive News Europe, Schneider Electric will be the main industrial partner supporting the effort with 100 other companies enlisted to provide technical support and parts.

In other parts of the world too, automakers are pitching in to help in the fight against COVID-19. The UK-based Formula One teams are assisting in the manufacturing and delivery of respiratory devices. Also, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 has developed a device that’s been approved by NHS in the U.K.

With big industries and private companies coming together to fight this deadly virus, we are hoping to see significant relief for the frontliners and critically-ill patients. As per current records, France has 56,989 confirmed coronavirus cases, 4,032 deaths, with 10,935 recoveries.

Also Read: GM to deliver 1.5 million face masks per month