WESTBROOK, ME—Systems integrator Lanco Integrated has completed an automated assembly system to produce components for coronavirus test kits. Typically, designing and building such a machine would take approximately 35 weeks, including design, engineering and manufacturing. Lanco had it ready in just eight weeks.

STUTTGART, Germany—After suspending production for a short time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mercedes-Benz has successfully restarted production at its assembly plants worldwide.

MARYSVILLE, OH—Honda is producing critical components for the production of much-needed ventilators at its assembly plant here. The components are being delivered to Dynaflo Inc., a manufacturer of vacuum pumps and compressors in Reading, PA.

BOWMANVILLE, ON, Canada — Tutelar Technologies Inc. has developed a new online Ujigami SAFE to Work Certification cloud application that is free for manufacturers to use. The application provides a rapid data entry web page for company screeners to certify employees who are eligible/ineligible to work based on the company's screening protocol.

SPRING HILL, TN—General Motors plans to reopen its Spring Hill assembly plant in stages this month following the extended shutdown caused by spreading coronavirus.

AUBURN HILLS, MI—As Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) prepares to resume its North American manufacturing operations, the company is implementing a comprehensive program of enhanced safety measures to protect employees, their families and the surrounding communities from the spread and transmission of COVID-19 when the plants reopen.

Engineering schools around the United States have recently developed a variety of ingenious ways to address the coronavirus pandemic.

As of April 19, more than 2.4 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 235 countries. Worldwide, more than 165,000 people have died from the disease, but more than 612,000 have recovered.