Festo collaborates with OEMs on ventilator, mask development

Festo North America and its subsidiary Fabco-Air Inc. are working on a ventilator design and an automation system for masks in the fight against COVID-19.

The companies are also prioritizing orders for components and systems used in medical equipment.

“Festo has launched focused coronavirus mitigation projects,” says Craig Correia, director of life science and process industries, Festo North America.

“A large research and development team is working full time on a design for a quick-to-manufacture emergency respiratory ventilator. Another team alongside a partner firm is developing a concept for automated production of protective masks. This team envisions a complete production system that can be set up and shipped within a standard transport container.”

Festo LifeTech Business Unit components are used in high-speed automated laboratory devices that are essential for the types of screening envisioned for sample analysis during the pandemic.

Festo LifeTech components are also used by certified respiratory equipment manufacturers. Festo does not manufacture that equipment itself.

In addition to the medical and manufacturing sectors, Festo is keeping its overall production and logistics systems sound for the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and packaging industries as well as for washing systems for hospitals and care facilities.