JR Automation Partners with General Motors to Deploy Medical Mask Assembly Line in Six Days
March 31, 2020 | JR AutomationEstimated reading time: 1 minute
On Saturday, March 21, General Motors (GM), approached Esys Automation, a JR Automation company, to help produce face masks to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The project was aggressive, building an entire mask assembly line capable of producing 50,000 masks a day, and GM needed the equipment running in less than one week.
That afternoon, the leadership teams at Esys and JR Automation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., reviewed the request and planned next steps. Sunday at 11:00 am EDT, our team was assessing the request from GM, designing plans based on readily available parts, and releasing them for build as they went.
By Monday, JR Automation was working across multiple fronts to implement the plan, while GM was quickly prepping the Warren, Michigan clean room for installation:
- JR Automation's engineering and build teams in Nashville and Holland provided input and shared their expertise on this type of system with Esys Automation
- JR Automation's in-house Machining & Fabrication department designed and built customized machinery to assemble the masks
- Controls and mechanical engineering teams worked in parallel with the supply chain team throughout JR Automation to secure all components, despite many supply chains disrupted by the crisis
Builders at Esys Automation worked around the clock to assemble components, delivering the first equipment to GM Friday morning. At 2:30 pm EDT on Friday, March 27, GM produced their first mask in response to the COVID-19 crisis using the line that JR Automation built in six days.
JR Automation is truly honored to partner with customers like General Motors to help combat this pandemic and support our dedicated medical workers on the front lines every day. With the best customers, automation services, and talent in the world, we can and will continue to push innovation forward, no matter the need. Other teams across JR Automation are already gearing up to provide automation solutions for other essential items in response to this crisis.
Suggested Items
Technica Leads the Way Into Automation and Machine Learning at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
03/28/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineAs a significant partner to PCB fabricators since almost the beginning of multilayer boards, Technica USA brings a lot of expertise to the industry. This year’s IPC APEX EXPO show will showcase their biggest booth yet, and a whole lot of information, discussion and demonstration around automation and AI machine learning. In this interview, Jason Perry discusses Technica's plans for the show, and why attendees should stop by.
Benmayor to Exhibit Technosystem Automation at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
03/25/2024 | BenmayorBenmayor will exhibit Technosystem Automation at the IPC APEX EXPO 2024, a world-class trade show and cutting-edge technical conference in Anaheim, California, April 6-11, in booth 4432 at Burkle North America (Schmoll).
Mycronic's Global Technologies Makes Acquisition in Germany
03/22/2024 | MycronicMycronic’s Global Technologies division has signed an agreement to acquire Vanguard Automation, a company headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, which has developed a technology and automated equipment for 3D microfabrication of optical interconnects.
Omron to Showcase Inspection and Factory Automation Solutions at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
03/18/2024 | OmronOMRON Automation Americas, a global leader in industrial automation solutions will be exhibiting at IPC APEX 2024, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center from April 9th to April 11th. Attendees are invited to visit Omron's booth #2647 to hear how AI powers Omron’s latest technology, in addition to learning more about our newest X-Ray inspection machine, the VT-X850. This new 3D CT X-Ray inspection system is designed specifically for electric vehicle (EV) surface mount technology (SMT) manufacturing lines.
AI-equipped Robots Help Logistics Industry to Fight Labor Shortages
03/13/2024 | IFRThe global logistics industry serves as a backbone of international trade - representing about 10 percent of the world´s GDP.