Vyaire Medical and Spirit AeroSystems Partner to Greatly Increase Ventilator Production in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

CHICAGO and WICHITA, Kan., May 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vyaire Medical Inc., the world's largest healthcare company fully dedicated to respiratory care, together with Spirit AeroSystems [NYSE: SPR], announced today a new manufacturing and supply collaboration to build critical care ventilators at a converted facility in Wichita, Kan. The temporary special partnership will allow Vyaire to quickly ramp up production of critical care ventilators. This partnership furthers earlier action taken by Vyaire to accelerate production of ventilators and other related respiratory equipment at its primary production facilities based in North America.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our way of life, but this is our opportunity to meet the needs of the American people with this partnership," said Vyaire CEO Gaurav Agarwal. "Spirit's breadth of technical capability, manufacturing prowess and skilled workforce make them ideally suited to support us in scaling our operations to meet this unprecedented demand. On behalf of the entire Vyaire team, I welcome the professionals from Spirit who join us in this cause and extend a deep appreciation for the job they will undertake at this critical time."

Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world's largest non-OEM designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial and defense aircraft and is headquartered in Wichita.

"This collaboration is an opportunity for Spirit to help at a time when our nation needs it most," said Tom Gentile, President and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems. "We are honored to bring our industrial capabilities and skilled workforce to help Vyaire scale up quickly to produce much-needed ventilators during this pandemic."

Spirit has expertise with industrializing and building at high production rates and has a large, well-trained and experienced workforce of assembly mechanics, machinists, factory managers and supply chain professionals already working to support conversion of manufacturing to medical devices. Design of the production system is underway, and teams are readying the facilities with production materials, critical equipment and building infrastructure to stand up manufacturing lines. Training of staff is proceeding and approximately 700 Spirit employees will be assigned to this special project as production ramps up.

The Vyaire/Spirit AeroSystems collaboration is a meaningful action to meet unprecedented demand for ventilation equipment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vyaire was chosen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide 22,000 of its LTV2 2200 ventilators to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. In addition to the national stockpile request, Vyaire is working with state and private hospital and health system clients to ensure delivery of ventilators to areas of greatest need. The manufacturing and supply collaboration will help to balance the needs of clinicians urgently treating patients at the bedside with the commitment to fill or replenish strategic stockpiles. Vyaire is working with customers, including the HHS, to ensure patient need is prioritized and that critical care ventilators are distributed to areas in most need.

It is anticipated that more than 1,000 American workers, approximately 700 from Spirit and 300 from Vyaire, will be working in facilities in California and Kansas to manufacture ventilators at the height of this collaboration. For more information, please visit our website, which will be updated as our pandemic response evolves: Vyaire COVID-19 Response Center.

About Vyaire Medical
Vyaire Medical Inc., a global company dedicated to respiratory care, enables, improves and extends lives with an unyielding focus on improving patient outcomes and increasing value for customers. The company consists of a conglomeration of well-known brands and was formed in October 2016 to serve healthcare providers with innovative devices and service solutions across the respiratory and anesthesia continuum of care. Headquartered in suburban Chicago, Vyaire's legacy brands have a 65-year track record of pioneering and advancing respiratory diagnostics, ventilation, and anesthesia delivery & monitoring. From original brands ­— including Bird, Bear, and JAEGER to industry leaders AirLife™, Vital Signs™, Viasys, and many others — Vyaire Medical is recognized, trusted and preferred by specialists in respiratory and anesthesiology healthcare worldwide. Learn more at www.vyaire.com.

About Spirit AeroSystems
Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe. More information is available at www.spiritaero.com.

Contact

For Vyaire Medical 
Cheston Turbyfill
Email: [email protected]

For Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. 
Keturah Austin 
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Vyaire Medical Inc.