The Viessmann Group is consistently expanding its Corona aid program in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In a converted part of its production facilities, the family-owned company is manufacturing ventilators for delivery to India, whose population is badly affected by the coronavirus crisis.
Fight against COVID
Max Viessmann, Viessmann Co-CEO of Viessmann Group, “The global coronavirus pandemic will only end when it ends for everyone – worldwide. The fight against the pandemic requires global solidarity. That is why we are thinking beyond the borders of our own country and providing unbureaucratic help to the people in those regions most severely affected by the pandemic."
"The way we deal with the coronavirus crisis today will determine how we remember this time in the future, hopefully with pride and the awareness of having achieved a new level of solidarity.”
Mobile ventilators
The ventilators were developed in close cooperation with intensive care physicians"
Dr. Markus Klausner, CTO of Viessmann Climate Solutions, “The ventilators were developed last year during the first wave of the pandemic, in close cooperation with intensive care physicians from the Luisenhospital, the academic teaching hospital of the medical faculty of the RWTH Aachen University, the E.ON Energy Research Center and the district hospital in Frankenberg."
"A report from an accredited German test institute highlighted the full functionality of our solution. Fortunately, at that time it was not necessary to make use of the equipment. We will now supply our mobile ventilators to India.”
Ventilators are not dependent on hospital infrastructure
One feature makes the compact Viessmann ventilators ideal for use in India where the pandemic is widespread.
They are mobile and are not dependent on the technical infrastructure of a hospital because they can either be connected to the hospital oxygen supply or operated as a standalone solution with a connected oxygen cylinder. The first emergency ventilators are already en route to India as a donation.
Increased production
Viessmann is not only working with local authorities on the ground, but also with experienced Indian companies
Subject to special regional approval, they will then be distributed to the worst-hit regions. Many more could follow because the employees of a production line for wall-mounted gas appliances at Viessmann are ready and able to step-up production to as many as 600 units per day if necessary.
To ensure that the help gets to where it is most needed, Viessmann is not only working with local authorities on the ground, but also with experienced Indian companies and entrepreneurs. Among these companies are h2e POWER, a very successful specialist in the development of sustainable energy solutions that operates worldwide, and EKKI, a supplier of pumps and water technology in India.
The impetus for development came from an employee's idea
Surprisingly, a company specializing in innovative climate solutions should be manufacturing life-saving ventilators. Even more surprising is that the development took just two weeks, coupled with the fact that the entire project was initiated and successfully implemented based on an employee's idea.
“Developing the prototype in such a short time was a very intense, challenging but exciting experience. Luckily, the ventilators weren’t needed in Germany. But if they can now help to save lives, then it’s a fantastic confirmation of our unique teamwork and co-creation capability,” summarized project manager Dr. Marina Pausch.
flexible production facilities
It was possible to develop a simple ventilator in such a short time due to the company’s expertise in ventilation
The fact that it was possible to develop a simple ventilator in such a short time is due to the company’s expertise in ventilation, which was the ideal basis for the development work. On the one hand, many components from Viessmann’s wall-mounted gas appliances, such as the electronic gas and air connectors, could be used in the ventilator.
On the other hand, Viessmann has very flexible production facilities which could be adapted to the new requirements in a very short time. During the development and testing phase, the engineers of the family-owned business were in close contact with anesthetists and intensive care physicians who supported the development process.
air purifiers
In the course of the coronavirus pandemic, Viessmann has converted some of its production capacity to manufacture ventilators, mobile care units, face masks, and disinfectants, thereby strengthening its social responsibility. The company recently also developed air purifiers, a unique hybrid solution that provides rooms with a continuous supply of fresh air and simultaneously cleans the air.
The unit ensures constant air circulation to reduce aerosols and uses the displacement ventilation principle to keep closed rooms supplied with fresh outside air so that, for example, students and teachers are best protected against the virus and learning is improved.
