Mercedes-Benz SA is announced that it will assist in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in the Eastern Cape, by manufacturing the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of 3D printed recyclable plastic face shields for use in mass screening, clinics and hospitals.
In addition, and pending quality assurance regulatory approval, MBSA will also manufacture and supply Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) breathing aid devices from its East London Manufacturing Plant for the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health.
The MBSA East London Manufacturing Plant re-opened under Alert Level 4 restrictions, on 4 May 2020 in accordance to stringent occupational health and safety risk management systems and protocols and will use its capacity to manufacture face shields and CPAP devices, which deliver oxygen to the lungs without needing a ventilator. The CPAP breathing aid devices have been used extensively in hospitals in countries hardest hit by COVID-19 to assist patients with serious respiratory problems to breathe more easily, when oxygen via a face mask alone has proven insufficient. CPAP devices are non-invasive breathing aid devices, which provide a constant, steady pressure to keep the lungs expanded. Reports from Italy indicate that approximately 50% of patients given CPAP have avoided the need for invasive mechanical ventilation.
It is anticipated that the CPAP devices provided by MBSA will also assist with reducing the burden on public health facilities based in the Eastern Cape, which is expected to experience a surge in coronavirus patients.
During the non-production period of the lockdown, MBSA explored the feasibility of developing CPAP devices for manufacture. With this decision, MBSA is following example of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team based in the UK by preparing its machines, which under normal circumstances would produce automobile components, to develop these breathing aids.
Pending regulatory approval from local medical licencing authorities, MBSA will manufacture CPACP breathing devices from its manufacturing plant. Once approved, MBSA anticipates that it will be able to manufacture more than 1000 face shields and CPAP devices per month.
