Formaspace workbenches shipped from our Austin factory arrive on site (bottom), where GM staff set them up on the new production line (top). (Photo by AJ Mast for General Motors)
Formaspace manufactures 500 ESD workbenches in only 18 days for GM’s Kokomo, Indiana facility producing critically important ventilators for Coronavirus patients.
AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020
Formaspace announced today that it has completed an initial order of 500 new ESD workbenches destined for General Motors manufacturing facility in Kokomo, Indiana, where GM and Ventec Life Systems are partnering to produce Ventec critical care ventilators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Formaspace received the urgent request from GM on March 22, 2020, and put the resources of the entire company toward one goal: delivering as fast as possible. The first truckload of ESD workbenches departed the Formaspace factory in Austin for Indiana three days later, with subsequent truckloads shipping out each day until the initial order was completed on April 9.
“We were able to respond quickly to this urgent request from GM because we manufacture all our custom industrial furniture using American-sourced steel and other raw materials from the USA at our factory headquarters in Austin, Texas,” says Jeff Turk, Formaspace CEO. “Now that this initial order is complete, we are utilizing our newly increased production capacity to speed up delivery of non-healthcare critical projects, and expect those orders will be completed within a few days. I hope you will support us as we do our part to help healthcare providers respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The assembly operations at the 100,000 sq ft facility in Kokomo span three floors of the building and feature a cleanroom area and two production lines.
The 500 new workbenches supplied by Formaspace will be used for assembling the delicate electronic components. Each of the workbenches features work surfaces with full coverage ESD protection (to suppress static electric shocks that could damage sensitive microelectronics), built-in parts bins, heavy-duty white powder-coated steel frames, integrated overhead lighting, and 8 plug power strips.
“Every ventilator we build can help save lives, and GM’s global supply base and manufacturing teams, the UAW, and the Kokomo community are working with passion and unwavering commitment to get the job done,” said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president, Global Manufacturing. “People have moved mountains to help increase the production of Ventec’s critical care ventilator. I have never seen anything like it in my career.”
According to Frank Bucher, Formaspace EVP of Sales and Marketing, “Our production facility is open and able to respond to the needs of our customers who are constructing new facilities or making changes to their existing operations, including manufacturing facilities, material handling, and distribution centers, pharma and healthcare laboratories, or primary, secondary, and university educational facilities. We have added an additional work shift to keep up with current demand, and we are taking special care to ensure all hygiene precautions are in place to allow our facilities to operate safely during this difficult time.”
Formaspace fosters the spirit of discovery and creation through the design and manufacture of unique, made-in-America furniture solutions, from ideation to installation. To learn more about our large-scale, custom manufacturing capabilities and our unique furniture systems for large and small conference rooms, private offices, co-working spaces, makerspaces, cafes, lounges, laboratories, industrial environments, K-12, universities, and beyond, please visit https://formaspace.com
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