Italian supercar manufacturers have their hands full recently helping out in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.
While Lamborghini has converted its facilities in Sant’Agata Bolognese into a manufacturing plant for personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, Ferrari has also done something similar. To be exact, Ferrari has already started the production of respirator valves and fittings for protective masks at its Maranello plant.
These thermoplastic components are being made where Ferrari’s prototypes are born. Ferrari says that some of the valves have been produced by and tailor-fit for masks from diving equipment manufacturer Mares. The other fittings are then supplied to Solid Energy, who will then use said fittings to convert Decathlon snorkel masks into full-fledged PPEs for healthcare workers—similar to Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus’ latest creation.
Ferrari is now aiming to produce these by the hundreds and is currently working with the Italian Civil Protection to be able to distribute the equipment to hospitals across the country.
Considering how bad Italy has been hit by the pandemic, these efforts—no matter how big or small—will certainly prove to be useful right now.
For more stories on what other carmakers have been doing to help both locally and globally during this pandemic, click here. As for further updates on the ongoing crisis, watch this space.