Founded in 1949, Franke GmbH develops and produces wire roller bearings, turning systems, and linear systems. Customers from medical technology, renewable energies, and aerospace technology trust in the innovative and high-quality solutions of the technology leader.

To meet the quality requirements, Franke relies on six machining centers from DMG Mori for mechanical processing. With the global spread of the COVID-19 virus and increasing demand for medical technology components, Franke ordered two additional DMC 125 FD duoBLOCK.

High-end special bearings with integrated drives for CT xcanners, bearings for ceiling lights in intensive care units, and special bearings for medical centrifuges and laboratory devices are just a few examples of what Franke manufactures for well-known medtech OEMs. The company’s share of medical technology sales rose from 35% to more than 40% in 2020.

µ-precise production of bearing components
Franke has been manufacturing with machining centers from DMG MORI since 2008. Its machine park includes a DMU 210 FD and the DMC 80 FD duoBLOCK, DMC 125 FD duoBLOCK, and DMC 160 FD duoBLOCK equipped with a pallet changer. All machines have an accuracy package.

© DMG MORI / FRANKE

The duoBLOCK models in particular play a decisive role for Oliver Schröder, authorized representative and head of purchasing and materials management: “Milling and turning in one clamping combined with the automatic pallet changer offer us the optimal package for processing highly complex housing parts for special bearings from 300mm to 2,000mm. The accuracy is in the µ range.”

One of the two recently ordered DMC 125 FD duoBLOCK also has the DMG MORI technology cycle gearSKIVING in order to be able to manufacture straight and oblique external and internal gears in-house using conical gear skiving tools in the future. This can reduce both costs and lead times.

Dearborn, Michigan – Ford has signed contracts with health systems in four metro areas with major company facilities to quickly test hourly and salaried employees with suspected symptoms of COVID-19.

In Southeast Michigan, Ford will work with Beaumont Health for testing. In Louisville, Ford employees will be tested through University of Louisville Health. In the Kansas City area, employees will be tested through Liberty Hospital. In the Chicago area, employees will be tested through the University of Chicago Medical Center and UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

“Fast and accurate testing is a key tool in the effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Walter Talamonti, Ford Medical Director. “These contracts will allow us to test employees with suspected symptoms and have results back within 24 hours. If they test positive, we can quickly identify close contact employees who may have been exposed and ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days.”

In Southeast Michigan, where Ford employs approximately 46,000 people, employees who exhibit symptoms associated with COVID-19 will receive a prescription for testing from Ford’s onsite doctors. This prescription allows employees to receive testing through Beaumont Health.

In Louisville, where Ford has two major assembly plants and employs approximately 12,500 people, employees who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to immediately schedule a telemedicine appointment with a doctor. The doctor can then write a prescription for COVID-19 testing if necessary. Testing will be done through University of Louisville Health.

In the Kansas City area, where Ford builds the F-150 and employs more than 7,000 people, employees who exhibit symptoms associated with COVID-19 will receive a prescription from Ford’s onsite doctors for testing. They can then access a drive-through testing site at Liberty Hospital.

In the Chicago area, home of Chicago Assembly and Chicago Stamping plants, which together employ nearly 7,000 people, Ford will advise employees who suspect or exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 to call the COVID number of the University of Chicago Medical Center and UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Hospital. After a phone screening, they will be given a same day appointment for COVID-19 testing when appropriate.

In all locations, the goal is to have results available within 24 hours.

Testing results will be simultaneously shared with Ford doctors in order to quickly identify others who were in close contact with infected employees and immediately have them self-quarantine for 14 days.

“We are working on quickly expanding testing of symptomatic employees,” said Ken Washington, Ford’s Chief Technology Officer. “The health and safety of our employees has been – and remains – our top priority as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to expanding locations for these tests, we are also pursuing the possibility of voluntary antibody testing in the future for our employees.”

Ford is initially focusing on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which identifies if someone is actively infected. PCR tests are used to detect the presence of viral RNA, not the presence of the antibodies, which are the body’s immune response.

“Fast, accurate tests work hand-in-hand with personal protection equipment and protocols to create a safe environment for our workforce,” said Gary Johnson, Ford’s Chief Manufacturing and Labor Affairs Officer.

Testing is the most recent addition to Ford’s health and safety protocols in place in the company’s facilities.

To guide the workforce with the new health and safety protocols, Ford has compiled a comprehensive Manufacturing Return to Work Playbook to help protect its workforce, assembled using best practices and input from experts around the world. Some of the safety protocols include:

• Daily online employee and visitor health self-certifications completed before work every day. Employees or visitors who indicate they may have symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus will be told not to come to Ford facilities.
• No-touch temperature scans upon arrival – anyone with a raised temperature will not be permitted to enter and will need to be cleared of symptoms before returning to work.
• Required face masks for everyone entering a Ford facility. Every Ford team member will be provided a care kit including face masks and other items to help keep them healthy and comfortable at work.
• Safety glasses with side shields or face shields will be required when jobs don’t allow for social distancing.
• There will be more time between production shifts to limit interaction between employees and allow for additional cleaning.
  

Avery Dennison has entered into an agreement with Global Safety First LLC, (GSF), to produce and distribute a self-adhesive, NIOSH-Certified N95 mask as part of the company’s efforts to provide innovative personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The N95 mask is a standard of safety in the healthcare setting and vitally important to protecting healthcare workers and patients. GSF’s ReadiMask Self-Adhesive NIOSH-Certified N95 face masks are made with electrostatic particle filtration properties that make them more breathable. They adhere gently to the face with double-coated skin-friendly adhesive, and are available for use in healthcare settings as a COVID-19 countermeasure.

The ReadiMask is unique because it can form an air-tight seal providing maximum protection while allowing filtration during inhalation and exhalation. The mask is virtually weightless, convenient and easy to use. The design eliminates tight straps or ties that put pressure on the face or get caught in hair. Additionally, ReadiMask has no uncomfortable metal nose clip that can cause skin bruising. The ReadiMask was designed with a very low breathing resistance and may provide a cooler temperature than other similar masks.

“Our partnership with Global Safety First allows us to bring some much needed safety and comfort to frontline healthcare workers who rely on N95 masks every day for protection. GSF’s unique design, along with our medical manufacturing capabilities and expertise in skin contact adhesives, is helping to bring mask innovation to the healthcare market at a time when it is sorely needed,” says Kirsten Newquist, vice president and general manager, Avery Dennison Medical.

“Healthcare providers will be required to use increased amounts of PPE for some time to come as a result of this pandemic, and it’s critical that industry responds quickly – not only with increased supply, but with products and equipment that make it easier for healthcare professionals to do their jobs,” says John Schwind, president, Global Safety First LLC. “We are pleased to partner with Avery Dennison to meet this need.”

Production of these U.S. made, self-adhesive masks will begin shortly at Avery Dennison’s Mentor, Ohio facility pending NIOSH approval, with first shipments anticipated in June. The facility is FDA registered, ISO 13485 and MDSAP compliant. The masks will be available for purchase by hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities as well as group purchasing organizations and distributors nationwide exclusively through Avery Dennison Medical.

Avery Dennison Medical is actively developing other types of PPE in response to COVID-19. Earlier, the company announced development of a new low-cost disposable plastic face shield.

To support its small business suppliers, Raytheon Technologies formed a Small Business Supplier Stimulus Team focused on coordinating support to its supply base. This team brings together cross-functional members from each of the company’s businesses, creating a hub of knowledge, expertise, and experience.

“There are various tools we can leverage, and our supply chain representatives all have these in their toolbox as they talk with the suppliers,” said Andrea Desaulniers, program manager of supply management at Raytheon Technologies.

The team has created standard work documents that will help our supply chain members support their suppliers. “When a supplier calls, we want to get them in the right direction. We first see if they can leverage the CARES Act and have direct links for them on our supplier website,” Desaulniers said.

These efforts and standard tools can be leveraged by all suppliers. Many of the large suppliers have small, sub-tier suppliers.

“We have thousands of buyers and supply chain support representatives out there,” said Desaulniers. “We’re trying to make sure they all understand what they can do when a supplier calls and says they need help. The first thing we want suppliers to do is to leverage the resources in the CARES Act but talk to their supply chain representative about other support they need that we may be able to help them with.”

During the past 14 days, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) processed the equivalent of more than 14 years’ worth of loans as a response to COVID-19’s economic impact. As of April 23, two of the programs aimed at supporting small businesses, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), had exhausted their funding. After Congress agreed to give more money to the SBA programs, would small businesses be able to resume applying for support?

The funding has since been made available, but questions were on the minds of the thousands of suppliers that support Raytheon Technologies. To answer those questions, Sarfraz Nawaz, vice president of supply chain at Raytheon Technologies, hosted a web conference on April 22 featuring John Miller, deputy associate administrator for the SBA Office of Capital Access. The conference is one of several ways Raytheon Technologies is supporting its supplier base during hard economic times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. All Raytheon Technologies suppliers and many internal supply chain representatives were invited to the conference.

The conference was a 30-minute information session that was viewed by more than 2,500 people. Miller answered suppliers’ most pressing questions about the EIDL and the PPP; questions such as whether the PPP can be forgiven after eight weeks, and what are the minimum requirements for the loan, were also covered.

“It’s true that the loan can be forgiven after eight weeks. The process works as follows: All or a portion of the PPP loan, including the accrued interest may be forgiven. At least 75% of the amount eligible for forgiveness must be attributed to payroll costs,” Miller said.

Miller went on to explain that the minimum requirements for the loan include completion of SBA form 248S, the Borrower’s Application for a PPP Loan, and submission of payroll and expense documents. Miller recommended that suppliers work with their banks for the PPP Loan application.

For the second round of PPP loans, the U.S. government has approved more than 960,000 loans with almost $90 billion in funding. Currently there are more than 5,300 lenders participating. While industry breakdowns are not yet available for the second round of loans, manufacturing was the third-highest recipient for the first round of PPP loans.

Raytheon Technologies is using its manufacturing capacity and engineering, logistics, and finance expertise to carry out initiatives that serve its communities, deliver on commitments to its customers and protect its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.