Although Continental, whose business units include off-highway machine tyres and Conti-tech conveyor belts and associated technology, had ramped-down its activity at the northern Italy site due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has temporarily re-started production to manufacture special requested batches for the under-ressure Italian healthcare sector.
"This is our critical contribution to Bergamo and the Italian society to support all the helping hands in the medical field. All of the caregivers are providing essential and vital services during these challenging times,” said Marco Tamborini, responsible manager for the Italy-based production of thermoplastic hoses at Continental since Merlett was acquired by Continental in 2019.
The hoses are produced for the transportation of air and various medical gases required in healthcare applications. For example, the hoses are used for low pressure delivery but also for easy suction of gas into respiratory equipment such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system to ensure that the patient's spontaneous breathing is supported.
The gas transfer solutions were manufactured for the company’s Bergamo-located customer Flowmeter, a specialist for devices for measurement, control and supply of fluids.
The province of Bergamo in the region of Lombardy is particularly hard hit by the novel viral disease. Roberto Paratico, CEO of Flow-meter, said: “In the last few days we have received many expressions of gratitude from the hospitals that we are serving. That would be impossible without reliable partners on our side – especially during these times. The local health facilities rely on a continuous supply of medical applications due to the ongoing stressful situation."
