Combilift develops ventilator device
Forklift vendor Combilift is stepping up to address the shortage of medicalequipment for treating Covid- 19 patients by developing a splitter device thatturns one ventilator into multiple ventilation stations.
Monaghan, Ireland-based Combilift used its resources in engineeringand software design to pivot from the material handling sector to create the“Combi-Ventilate,” saying the unit will address the requirements of medicalprofessionals in the Covid- 19 emergency.
The Combi-Ventilate uses standard pipes and fittings for easy assembly, offers individual patient filters that preventcross contamination, and supports dedicated computer screens for each patient’s vital information. The device is designedas an attachment that can be added to any brand of ventilator, installed easily into a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU),and purchased for a fraction of the cost of a standard ventilator, the firm said.
ically track loads, “greatly reducing the manual efforts fortrack-and-trace teams,” according to Descartes.
“As our customers focus on keeping food supply chains
functioning, having real-time visibility into the status of
critical freight has increased our ability to keep pace with
the unpredictable demand grocery stores are experiencing,”
Greg Ackner, vice president at Capital Logistics, said in
late April. “In one case, we went from moving two to three
truckloads of milk per week to distribution centers serving
multiple states to 50 to 60 truckloads per week.”
Food industry groups partner to keep
supply lines open
The International Foodservice Distributors Association(IFDA) and FMI-Food Industry Association are partneringto help keep store shelves stocked amid the coronaviruspandemic. In March, the groups announced a partnershipthat aims to match food-service distribution companiesthat have excess product, warehouse space, and transportation capacity with food retailers and wholesalers in need ofassistance, the associations said.
The partnership addresses the issue of excess productand capacity caused by the closing of restaurants, schools,and other businesses with retailers and wholesalers seekingto replenish store shelves more quickly. IFDA and FMI aregathering information from their members and matchingcapacity to need geographically, essentially functioning as aclearinghouse for contact information, according to IFDAspokeswoman Meghan Cieslak. She emphasized that theprogram aims to help fill demand for products but will alsohelp fill demand for trucks, drivers, warehouse staff, warehouse storage, and similar needs.
MH Equipment funds food banks, employee volunteer work
The Illinois-based material handling equipment dealer MH Equipment has used its corporate charity program to support several initiatives during the economic shutdowns andshortages caused by the Covid- 19 pandemic.
First, the firm launched a campaign to address food shortages faced by community foodbanks and pantries during the coronavirus emergency. The company’s “Purpose Unites”program allows employees to automatically deduct part of their paychecks to support localfood banks. Along with donations from the company’s “His First Foundation” charitableprogram, the effort raised nearly $187,000 across 33 office locations in just four days.
Second, the company’s charity arm paid many of MH Equipment’s own employees toperform volunteer community service, using spare time they had available due to a dropin demand during the recession. MH Equipment compensated them for more than 4,000
meal delivery, and packaging; making masks; mowing yards for the elderly and for nonprofit organizations; and using theirtechnical skills to assist with light mechanical work on fire engines at volunteer fire departments.
