Velentium Scales Up Operations to Fuel Ventilator Manufacturing Efforts During COVID-19
Houston-based medical device design and manufacturing firm responds rapidly to tackle national ventilator shortage and support “Project V” at General Motors facility
HOUSTON – June 9th, 2020 – Velentium, a professional engineering firm that specializes in the design and manufacturing of therapeutic and diagnostic active medical devices from Fortune 100 companies to startups and everything in between, announced today that it successfully contributed its world-class expertise in the fight against COVID-19 as part of “Project V” at General Motors’ Kokomo, Indiana manufacturing facility.
Leveraging its technical knowledge and capabilities, Velentium mobilized quickly during the last several weeks to support critical ventilator manufacturing efforts in response to COVID-19. In collaboration with GM and Ventec, the company was selected to source, assemble, document, verify and supply the automated test systems for the VOCSN systems that Velentium helped Ventec with years before.
"We’re incredibly proud to work with GM and longtime partner Ventec to support the nation’s coordinated private sector response to COVID-19," said Dan Purvis, chief executive officer of Velentium. “Ventilators are sensitive devices, and each one has to work exactly right so that they benefit patients as prescribed by caregivers. The Velentium team played a pivotal role in ensuring each ventilator performed correctly by testing them as they were built at the VentecGM plant.”
Launched in March at the onset of the global health pandemic, Project V is an initiative to mass-manufacture Ventec’s VOCSN ventilator system to meet increasing demand. A vital tool to patient recovery, the VOCSN system seamlessly integrates five separate devices – a ventilator, oxygen concentrator, cough assist, suction and nebulizer – into a single respiratory system. Velentium created the test systems in order to test multiple sub-assemblies at various process steps.”
Within the short span of four weeks:
· Velentium provided the initial 90 test systems out of a total of 141 to ensure the respiratory systems met FDA-approved design standards.
· The company shipped the first test system just four days after receiving GM’s original purchase order.
· Velentium scaled its internal team, adding more than 60 contractors in project-based engineering, technical, purchasing and receiving roles, and recruited talent from industries crippled by the pandemic, including oil and gas.
Project V is ramping up to produce more than 10,000 ventilator systems per month with the ability to scale further if needed. The first 600 ventilators were shipped within weeks of activation and plan is to deliver at least 30,000 ventilators by the end of August to ensure there is inventory on hand for any future demand.
“Our team’s swift response during these unprecedented circumstances demonstrates Velentium’s ability to ensure critical medical equipment performs safely and securely,” said Purvis. “Velentium’s passion is to help our clients change lives for a better world, and during this crisis, our efforts have never seemed so critical. In a time when there is so much fear and uncertainty, our unique company culture enabled our team to roll up its sleeves and make a difference.”
About Velentium
Headquartered in Houston, Texas with operations globally, Velentium is a professional engineering firm that specializes in the design and manufacturing of therapeutic and diagnostic active medical devices for Fortune 500 companies and startups. The company offers world-class expertise in software, usability, cybersecurity, electrical and mechanical development for medical equipment. Velentium transforms IP into safe and secure products that will support healthcare professionals, patients and communities, and ultimately, change lives for a better world. For more information, visit www.velentium.com.
Media Contact: Victoria Cook, Pierpont Communications for Velentium, vcook@piercom.com, 713-627-2223
