GM passes torch to Ventec, after completing order
By HME News Staff
Updated Wed September 2, 2020
KOKOMO, Ind. - General Motors and Ventec Life Systems delivered its 30,000th V+Pro critical care ventilator to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Aug. 31.
The two companies completed the full federal order in just 154 days, completing one vent about every seven minutes.
“Our drive to put critical care ventilators into production was fueled by thousands of people at GM, Ventec and our suppliers, who all wanted to do their part to help saves lives during the pandemic,” said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO. “It was inspiring to see so many people achieve so much so quickly.”
With the Aug. 31 shipment, GM has formally turned over operational control of the company's Kokomo vent manufacturing operation to Ventec.
Ventec will now produce VOCSN multi-function vents in Kokomo, as well as in Bothell, Wash., in response to ongoing demand during the pandemic. The company's monthly vent production has increased 80 times in the past five months.
“Our hope continues to be that mitigation efforts stop the spread of this virus,” said Chris Kiple, CEO of Ventec Life Systems. “Ventec Life Systems in committed to maintaining increased production capacity for as long as it is needed to ensure frontline healthcare workers have the tools necessary to save lives.”
GM and Ventec collaborated at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to rapidly scale up production of vents. In one month, the teams went from having an introductory phone call to delivering technology to frontline healthcare workers.
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