Car Company Seat Works Around the Clock to Create Ingenious Ventilators

THE company has gone from making cars to making ventilators from windscreen wipers to help those who most need it during this coronavirus crisis.

The number of coronavirus cases in Spain has skyrocketed to 94,417. These figures have not only led to the near collapse of medical centres in seven autonomous communities, but this has also increased the demand for gloves, masks, and ventilators. All essential items which help contain the propagation of the virus and also help defeat the virus.

For this same reason, every day there are more people and companies joining the initiative to help in whatever way they can. Whilst some choose to donate money or products to ensure there is sufficient materials and equipment at the hospitals, others prefer to look for alternative methods which can impact society in an immediate manner. This is the case of 3-D printers who have been organising themselves to guarantee the supply of protective masks, or the case of Seat who have been working on creating their own ventilators for weeks now.

Since the crisis began, Seat has been working on various projects to produce the material which is so in demand across hospitals in Spain. One of the most notable projects in their repertoire is a ventilator, which has been achieved in a record time by their engineering division. In just under a week, the members of this team have created at least 13 prototypes which guarantee their use as assisted respiration machines.

The company has informed that each respirator boasts of over 80 electronic and mechanical components. Given the complexity of this machine and their intended use in different medical centres, each of these ventilators will pass an extensive quality control and ultraviolet light sterilisation process.

Whilst production continues, one of these respirators is being used for a long-term trial to guarantee its usability. The spokesperson for the Investigation and Development branch at Seat, Francesc Sabaté said: “Even knowing that we have tried to help save a life, means that all this work has been worth the effort.”