Aerospace components manufacturer Whitcraft hopes to soon begin producing ventilators in partnership with engineers from the nearby University of Connecticut.
The Hartford Courant reports that the company is currently developing a prototype based on plans from the University’s Fraunhofer USA Center for Energy Innovation. Ed Wazer, the center’s director and a longtime engineer at jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney, built two initial prototypes with a machinist.
The design, based on an open-source ventilator produced in Spain, was tweaked to meet the UConn Health Center’s specifications. It reportedly uses a windshield washer motor to squeeze the Ambu bag and provide ventilation for those suffering from severe cases of COVID-19.
Once the prototype is completed and approved, Whitcraft officials expect to build 12 to 24 ventilators in the first week of production. The company plans to continue producing the machines as fast as possible for as long as needed by hospitals.
The company and university reportedly began collaborating after a call from Colin Cooper, a former Whitcraft CEO who now serves as the state’s chief manufacturing officer under Gov. Ned Lamont.
