The indigenous Automaker, Mahindra & Mahindra have keenly been assisting the Government of India and the medical services to fight the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. They have begun the manufacture of a face shield that’s developed from a design sourced from Ford Motor Corporation. Mahindra and Ford came into a partnership last year. This ongoing collaborative effort is a good example of automotive industry alliance partners contributing to the fight against coronavirus.
Image Source: Autocarindia.com
The face shields are being assembled at the company's manufacturing facility in Kandivali, Mumbai. Initially, the company will be manufacturing 500 shields per day. This face shield will help the medical practitioners who are in the line of duty against the fast-spreading infection. It will fully block the face and eyes from accidental contact with liquids. Pairing it with the N95 respirators can be a more effective way to limit potential exposure to coronavirus.
Mahindra & Mahindra is concurrently working on developing a sophisticated but low-cost ventilator. The company is working with an existing manufacturer of high-spec ventilators to help simplify the design and also scale up manufacturing capacity. The automaker’s Kandivali (Mumbai) and Igatpuri (Nashik) manufacturing plants are working on developing a prototype of a bag valve mask known as Ambu (Artificial-Manual Breathing Unit). The Ambu bag is a self-inflating device to help patients with breathing problems. It is expected to cost less than Rs 7500 per unit. The company is seeking guidance from the specialists on the usefulness of the device.