GOTHENBURG, Sweden – To meet the global demand for ventilators, extracorporeal life support (ECLS) equipment and advanced monitoring for Intensive Care Units following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic – Getinge will temporarily increase its production of ventilators by 60 percent in 2020 compared to 2019 at its production facility in Solna, Sweden.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 14 percent of COVID-19 affected people develop severe disease that requires hospitalization and oxygen support, and five percent require admission to an intensive care unit.
“To meet the increased demand for ventilators we are adding a second production shift in our production facility”, says Elin Frostehav, vice president, Critical Care at Getinge. “The produced ventilators will be shipped globally based on current customer demands.”
In 2019, Getinge produced more than 10,000 ventilators which translates into around 3 BSEK of its net sales (including service and spareparts). The production in 2020 has been up and running without interference, and Getinge will ramp up the production further, pending availability of supply parts from its sub-contractors. The ramp up will start immediately and be balanced in close collaboration with Getinge’s suppliers.
“Our teams are doing their outmost every day to support our customers help saving lives”, Elin Frostehav continues. “I am very proud of our engaged sales teams and service technicians that on a daily basis are supporting our customers.”
The expected increase in demand and production capacity of ventilators is expected to be accretive to Getinge’s result.