Honda is working with Dynaflo to increase that company’s production of diaphragm compressors, a key component of portable ventilators being used in hospitals and by first responders across the country, Honda said Thursday.
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“The companies are aiming to produce 10,000 compressors per month once production reaches capacity,” Honda said in a new release. “Honda and Dynaflo expect to maintain production of compressors through the end of August.”
“Honda associates have successfully transformed a portion of our technical training center into an assembly line that will help support the urgent need to produce ventilator components,” Rick Schostek, Honda North America Inc. executive vice president said. “With our supply of these key components to Dynaflo, we hope to help address one of the most pressing needs within the COVID-19 crisis.”
A Honda spokesman said the company cannot provide the number of workers involved in the effort.
But the automaker did say it has transformed a 6,000-square-foot area of its Technical Development Center in Marysville into a space to assemble the compressors.
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“The process was developed using production know-how from Honda’s experienced manufacturing associates, including parts tracking, build timing, quality checks and lot control,” the company said. “These practices were essential in enabling Honda associates to quickly ramp up production over the first weeks of the project while maintaining social distancing protocols.”
Dynaflo had been making compressors at the rate of about 75 per week prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Being connected to Honda of America has been a godsend” Dynaflo President William Fleming said in Honda’s release. “Combining our diaphragm compressor technology with Honda’s expertise in mass production is a perfect combination to help meet the needs of this crisis.”
Honda suspended auto production on March 23, joining General Motors, Ford and other producers who also halted production about that time.
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