Cummins, Dana among manufacturers providing key supplies to combat COVID-19

Tps Logo Online Headshot
Updated Apr 16, 2020
03.20.COVID-19 coronavirus update-min

As the coronavirus continues to ravage the United States, many manufacturers in the trucking industry are pivoting their operations to provide life-saving medical gear to the healthcare community.

Cummins announced earlier this week a partnership with DuPont to address the country’s shortage of respirators, while Dana recently offered up its collection of 3D printers its Advanced Manufacturing Center in Maumee, Ohio, to print components for face shields being used in hospitals nationwide. In both instances, the quick shifts in manufacturing and product development were made by the companies for the common good and without government intervention — a common theme in an essential industry that continues to raise the bar during the current crisis.

At Dana, Commercial Vehicle Engineering Vice President Ryan Laskey says the company was eager to respond when it realized its printers were capable of helping to produce vital personal protective equipment (PPE).

“The spirit of the Dana team is echoed in our motto, ‘People Finding a Better Way,’” he says. “When our team understood the need for these items they went into action to find ways we could redeploy our people and assets to lend our hand in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Laskey says it immediately collaborated with local hospitals in the Maumee and Cleveland region to evaluate what was needed and then design and test the equipment.

A finished version of Dana’s face shield.A finished version of Dana’s face shield.

“From the first design to the delivery of the first shields was less than a week with the intubation box following closely behind, as it required some additional testing to ensure it met the requirements of healthcare professionals,” he says.

Work at Cummins didn’t take much longer.

When the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak first escalated, the University of Minnesota discovered its supply of N95 masks to protect healthcare workers would potentially run out in a matter of weeks. The school quickly brought together a comprehensive team to address the challenge, including the Center for Filtration Research, which led it to Cummins. The engine and filter manufacturer responded immediately, offering assistance to supply its NanoNet and NanoForce Media technology, which uses DuPont’s Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT), to be used in the N95 respirator masks worn by healthcare professionals.

“Cummins is re-evaluating our supply base and manufacturing capabilities to identify how we can support our healthcare professionals who rely on critical personal protective equipment to do their jobs,” says Amy Davis, vice president, Cummins Filtration. “Our NanoNet Media can fill a key supply void and help address the mask shortage facing the United States and other countries around the world.”

The company says the first mask prototypes using Cummins’ donated media were assembled by the University’s team in March as part of an initiative to provide masks to M Health Fairview and other Minneapolis-based healthcare systems.

Other aftermarket suppliers have joined in the fight against coronavirus as well.

Lubrication Specialities Inc. (LSI), maker of Hot Shot’s Secret performance oils and additives, announced Thursday it is redeploying a portion of the company’s Mt Gilead, Ohio, manufacturing facility to make alcohol-based hand sanitizer to assist with preventative care during the pandemic.

LSI will produce more than 4,500 bottles of hand sanitizer to help in the fight against COVID-19.LSI will produce more than 4,500 bottles of hand sanitizer to help in the fight against COVID-19.

LSI says it will manufacture up to 4,500 bottles of 4 oz. hand-sanitizer over the next few weeks and to continue operations as long as supplies of raw materials are available. The hand sanitizer will be a 75 percent isopropyl alcohol antiseptic, non-sterile solution.

“We are now able to source what we need to manufacture hand sanitizer, which meets the recommendations set by the World Health Organization (WHO),” says Eric Trimble, LSI brand marketing specialist. “We are currently bottling the hand sanitizer and hope to start distributing it next week. We will be giving it away for free to our local hospital and healthcare workers, nursing facilities, over-the-road truckers and we will be placing a bottle in every shipment of Hot Shot’s Secret product we send out the door.”

Cummins and Dana also are ramping up production rapidly, hoping to help as the nation’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths continues to rise.

Laskey says Dana is already delivering approximately 70 face shields per day and “as we expand the network of participants, we are hopeful to see this number increase.”

Cummins’ product will enter production immediately after it is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

“We’re working as quickly as possible with healthcare regulators and other partners to help certify products with our materials, and prepare our manufacturing facilities to meet demand,” Davis says.

Learn how to move your used trucks faster
With unsold used inventory depreciating at a rate of more than 2% monthly, efficient inventory turnover is a must for dealers. Download this eBook to access proven strategies for selling used trucks faster.
Download
Used Truck Guide Cover