DEARBORN, MI. – Ford Motor Company is beginning to ship powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) to health care facilities across the U.S.
With design and testing consultation from 3M, Ford designed and built PAPRs to help meet frontline workers’ need for personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“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 of 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.”
More than 10 companies from across Ford’s automotive supply chain are providing new and off-the-shelf parts for use in the PAPRs.
According to officials, 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 up to 8 hours”.
Ford and 3M have developed the PAPRs over the last month with the approval from the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, officials said. Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle is the first customer to receive the equipment.
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 has also produced reusable gowns, face shields and ventilators for health care workers amid the pandemic.
3M and Ford will donate any profits they earn from the sale of the PAPR to COVID-19 related nonprofit organizations.
