Increased demand for ventilators requires reliable and efficient welding technology

From oxygen sensors and pressure pumps to motors and battery packs, every component of a ventilator requires superior welds.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the production of ventilators has increased significantly to support the exponential increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus. This demand exceeds the production capacity of typical ventilator manufacturers, and so manufacturers who usually produce other products have switched some of their production capacity to meet the increased demand. Some of these manufacturers were already properly equipped for ventilator production, but many have needed to adapt and add to their existing machinery.

Ventilator basics and meeting the increased demand

A ventilator has several major components: oxygen sensors, pressure pumps, motors and a battery pack. Each of these consists of subcomponents, and they are typically manufactured separately and then assembled before being shipped to support patients in ICUs and other hospital settings.

Manufacturers already using advanced welding techniques are typically well placed to switch their production to ventilators, because the components require an extensive amount of welding. The table below lists ventilator components and the types of welding that are used to produce those components.

Component	LM	RW	LW	HB	MA
Air compressors and pumps	X	X	X
Bellows			X
Displays				X
Gas mixing valves	X
Pressure regulators		X	X
Flow control valves	X
Solenoid valves	X	X	X		X
Pressure relief valves	X
Check and one-way valves	X
Industrial automation components (safety relays and PLCs)		X			X
Power supplies	X
Electric motors and motor controllers		X	X		X
Linear actuators and controllers	X
Tubes and fittings
Pressure sensors and indicators		X	X
Oxygen sensors and indicators	X	X	X
Flow sensors and indicators		X	X
Manometers
Heat and moisture exchanging filters		X	X
&Air and HEPA filters		X	X

LM = laser marking, RW = resistance welding, LW = laser welding, HB = hot bar bonding,
MA = micro-arc welding

Given the importance of welding technology to nearly every type of ventilator component, AMADA WELD TECH is ready to provide manufacturers with additional welding technology to meet these unprecedented needs, as well as to provide support to existing customers who are looking for ways to adapt their existing technology to new applications.

Superior welding technology is an important factor to move forward.