CHICAGO and WICHITA, Kan., May 4,
2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vyaire Medical Inc., the world's
largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care,
together with Spirit AeroSystems [NYSE: SPR], announced today a new
manufacturing and supply collaboration to build critical care
ventilators at a converted facility in Wichita, Kan. The temporary special
partnership will allow Vyaire to quickly ramp up production of
critical care ventilators. This partnership furthers earlier action
taken by Vyaire to accelerate production of ventilators and other
related respiratory equipment at its primary production facilities
based in North America.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our way of life, but this is
our opportunity to meet the needs of the American people with this
partnership," said Vyaire CEO Gaurav
Agarwal. "Spirit's breadth of technical capability,
manufacturing prowess and skilled workforce make them ideally
suited to support us in scaling our operations to meet this
unprecedented demand. On behalf of the entire Vyaire team, I
welcome the professionals from Spirit who join us in this cause and
extend a deep appreciation for the job they will undertake at this
critical time."
Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world's largest non-OEM
designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial and
defense aircraft and is headquartered in Wichita.
"This collaboration is an opportunity for Spirit to help at a
time when our nation needs it most," said Tom Gentile, President and CEO of Spirit
AeroSystems. "We are honored to bring our industrial capabilities
and skilled workforce to help Vyaire scale up quickly to produce
much-needed ventilators during this pandemic."
Spirit has expertise with industrializing and building at high
production rates and has a large, well-trained and experienced
workforce of assembly mechanics, machinists, factory managers and
supply chain professionals already working to support conversion of
manufacturing to medical devices. Design of the production system
is underway, and teams are readying the facilities with production
materials, critical equipment and building infrastructure to stand
up manufacturing lines. Training of staff is proceeding and
approximately 700 Spirit employees will be assigned to this special
project as production ramps up.
The Vyaire/Spirit AeroSystems collaboration is a meaningful
action to meet unprecedented demand for ventilation equipment in
the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vyaire was chosen by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide 22,000 of
its LTV2 2200 ventilators to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile.
In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working
with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure
delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The
manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the
needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with
the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles. Vyaire is
working with customers, including the HHS, to ensure patient need
is prioritized and that critical care ventilators are distributed
to areas in most need.
It is anticipated that more than 1,000 American workers,
approximately 700 from Spirit and 300 from Vyaire, will be working
in facilities in California and
Kansas to manufacture ventilators
at the height of this collaboration. For more information, please
visit our website, which will be updated as our pandemic response
evolves: Vyaire COVID-19 Response Center.
About Vyaire Medical
Vyaire Medical Inc., a global company dedicated to respiratory
care, enables, improves and extends lives with an unyielding focus
on improving patient outcomes and increasing value for customers.
The company consists of a conglomeration of well-known brands and
was formed in October 2016 to serve
healthcare providers with innovative devices and service solutions
across the respiratory and anesthesia continuum of care.
Headquartered in suburban Chicago,
Vyaire's legacy brands have a 65-year track record of pioneering
and advancing respiratory diagnostics, ventilation, and anesthesia
delivery & monitoring. From original brands — including Bird,
Bear, and JAEGER to industry leaders AirLife™, Vital Signs™,
Viasys, and many others — Vyaire Medical is recognized, trusted and
preferred by specialists in respiratory and anesthesiology
healthcare worldwide. Learn more at www.vyaire.com.
About Spirit AeroSystems
Spirit AeroSystems designs
and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense
customers. With headquarters in Wichita,
Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K.,
France and Malaysia. The company's core products include
fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world's
premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable,
innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to
support customers around the globe. More information is available
at www.spiritaero.com.
Contact
For Vyaire Medical
Cheston Turbyfill
Email: Cheston.Turbyfill@vyaire.com
For Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
Keturah
Austin
Email: Keturah.austin@spiritaero.com
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SOURCE Vyaire Medical Inc.