[COVID19] – Faced with the shortage, SONIMAT supplies mask manufacturers
Read below the full article published here (in french)
Faced with the growing demand from manufacturers of protective masks, the Europe Technologies company, based in Carquefou, will considerably revive its production of equipment necessary for the manufacture of masks.
Europe Technologies [via its subsidiary SONIMAT] had not massively relaunched its production of mask welding machines since the H1N1 flu in 2009. At the time, the company specialized in the manufacturing of equipment for aeronautics and the automobile industry, had supplied many companies that make masks.
Ten years later, it seems like history is repeating itself. “We are off again, we have requests coming from everywhere. It’s kind of crazy, “said Luc Furlani, the company’s sales and marketing director. It was not a surprise: since the beginning of the epidemic in late December in China, the manufacturer expected to be contacted.
Once the pandemic spread worldwide, requests arrived from many countries around the world. Europe Technologies should multiply by 10, even 15, its production of mask welding modules.
4 to 6 months of work required
Orders pour in, but the machinery manufacturing process is long, very long. “In China, they announced that in 10 days they were able to make mask machines. We don’t have the same. In France, it takes between 4 and 6 months of work to develop them. ”
A few days ago, Europe Technologies announced to Russian customers the delivery of machines for the month of March … next year. “The same people who said no to a delivery for July three weeks ago, now say yes to deliveries for the end of the year. It shows concern about the duration of the epidemic, “said Luc Furlani.
100 masks per minute
Thanks to the modules supplied by Europe Technologies, which allow the welding of masks as well as elastics, the machines will be able to manufacture up to 100 masks per minute.
The comeback of the production of masks is a breath of fresh air for the industrialist from the Loire, while his traditional activity is suffering more and more from the current health crisis.
Aeronautics and automotive giants such as Airbus, Peugeot and Renault close their factories every day. Customers that Europe Technologies can no longer deliver.
SONIMAT textiles ultrasonic welding solutions are perfectly suited for welding surgical masks, FFP2, FFP3, N95 and KN95.
