SEAT is supporting healthcare by making automated ventilators, using….adapted windscreen wiper motors!

150 employees from several areas of the company have done the unique job to come out after merely a week on the definitive model after designing not less than 13 prototypes.

A ventilator is currently undergoing prolonged testing as part of the approval process

The SEAT Leon line at the Martorell plant is almost unrecognisable. Today, cars are no longer being made; instead, automated ventilators are being produced to collaborate with the healthcare system in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

If you want to see a YouTube film on this initiative, just klick https://youtu.be/35Ix4fCMxjM

The key lies in the windscreen wiper. The project is taking shape with gears printed at SEAT, gearbox shafts and the adapted motor of a windscreen wiper.

The aim was to make ventilators of the highest quality, and the result is the OxyGEN. Designed in collaboration with Protofy.XYZ, they are being assembled at the SEAT facilities.

Reshaping the assembly line

150 employees from different areas have changed their usual workstation to put together the ventilators where parts of the SEAT Leon used to be assembled. 

“Taking an assembly line that manufactures subframes, a car part, and adapting it to make ventilators has been a lengthy, difficult job involving many areas of the company, and we managed to do it in the record time of one week”, says Sergio Arreciado from the Process Engineering area of SEAT. Each ventilator has more than 80 electronic and mechanical components and undergoes a thorough quality control with ultraviolet light sterilisation.

The project is taking shape with gears printed at SEAT, gearbox shafts and the adapted motor of a windscreen wiper.

Thoroughly tested…

A ventilator is currently undergoing prolonged testing as part of the approval process. Meanwhile, the line continues to operate thanks to many employees who have worked tirelessly on this project. “Just knowing that we’ve tried to help save a life makes all this work we’ve done worthwhile”, says Francesc Sabaté of R&D at SEAT.

Joint effort. 

The result of this project has been possible thanks to the solidarity of its employees and the collaboration of many companies and entities that SEAT would like to thank for their involvement, especially the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Healthcare Products. Other companies which have participated in the project have been Protofy.XYZ, CMCiB, University of Barcelona, Recam Laser

Doga Motors, Luz Negra, Ficosa, Bosch, IDNEO, Secartys and LCOE.

This just shows how resilient our (automotive) companies and industries are…

Hans Knol ten Bensel