News

Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 6770; President & CEO: Toshihiro Kuriyama) has established capacity for an increase in production of its EM11B Series magnetic encoder, used as a control device for ventilators, in response to higher demand due to the spread of novel coronavirus disease COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has tightened the global supply of ventilators and heart-lung machines, which are considered effective tools for treating the disease. In light of the circumstances, many manufacturers in Japan and overseas are boosting production of these machines in response to requests made by governments and other parties.

Alps Alpine’s EM11B Series magnetic encoder (pictured)^*1 is employed in ventilators as a control device for adjusting volume, pressure and inspiratory time for delivery of air to the patient, as well as for switching between these modes. The product has been rated highly for its excellent operability, reliability, compact size and other features.

Responding to requests from ventilator manufacturers for an increase in production, Alps Alpine has established capacity for monthly output of 100,000 units, more than five times the normal volume. Supply has already begun. Further production adjustments will be made as required to accommodate customer needs and the situation of infections, among other factors.

Increasing production involved securing capacity with temporary adjustments made to production for other uses. While this may inconvenience other customers already using the product, we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

*1. An encoder is a sensor that detects the extent and direction of rotation or movement from the amount of rotation or travel of a control shaft and converts that into digital output as an electrical signal.
For more information on the EM11B Series, visit the link below on the Alps Alpine website.
https://tech.alpsalpine.com/e/products/category/encorder/sub/01/series/em11b/