In addition to the hard work of building the parts and pieces necessary for their fleet of race cars, ahead of what is looking to be one of the most grueling stretches of racing in recent memory, Stewart Haas Racing (SHR) has further expanded their partnership with Healthcare Provider Novant Health, by building ICU webcam carts.
The team began building a prototype of the cart in mid-April, for use in hospital’s intensive care units. SHR recently delivered ten of its ICU webcam carts to Novant Health, with a plan to build an additional 110 units over the coming weeks for use across Novant Health’s integrated system of physician practices, hospitals and outpatient centers.
The carts, measuring six and a half feet tall and weighing nearly thirty pounds, include a camera at the top, enabling remote monitoring of patients by Novant Health technicians. The technology improves the overall outcomes by shortening length-of-stay times, as well as limiting exposure to COVID-19 for frontline employees.
The ability to manufacture these ICU webcam carts represents the expansion of SHR’s partnership with Novant Health. Two weeks ago the race team picked up and delivered two million face masks, in order to replenish Novant Health’s supplies and ensure that its frontline team members are protected amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we are based in North Carolina and immersed in NASCAR, we’ve seen how well race teams adapt and innovate to stay competitive,” said Mark Welch, senior vice president of supply chain, Novant Health. “Stewart-Haas Racing has proven this point, designing and manufacturing in-demand ICU webcam carts for us in the span of three weeks. Novant Health had a demand, needed a solution, and Stewart-Haas Racing responded. Its quickness and attention to detail is a testament to their success, and our patients are the beneficiaries.”
With Autodesk Fusion 360 design and manufacturing software, SHR used its in-house CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) machine shop outfitted with tools from Haas Automation to create an efficient, lightweight and easy-to-clean ICU webcam cart that provides a new level of digital wellness technology. Even the paint is high-tech, as the purple and white ChromaPremier coating from industry-leader Axalta is anti-microbial to allow for improved cleaning.
“Building ICU webcam carts for Novant Health was a challenge we eagerly accepted,” said Mike Verlander, vice president of sales and marketing, SHR. “We’re used to working under tight deadlines and the parts we manufacture have to stand up to the highest scrutiny and maximum tolerances. Thanks to Haas Automation, Autodesk and Axalta, everything we need to design and manufacture is available under one roof. As satisfying as it is to use these resources to win races and championships, we take a great deal of pride in creating something that is a must-have for doctors and nurses.”
Despite the NASCAR season getting ready to resume May 17 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Stewart-Haas Racing was able to scale up its state-of-the-art machine shop to produce the ICU webcam carts for Novant Health. Specifically, SHR personnel use Haas CNC Mill Model VF4SS with a TR210 Trunnion, Haas CNC Mill Model VM2 with a TR160 Trunnion, Haas CNC Lathe Model ST20SS and Haas CNC Lathe Model ST30SSY to manufacture all the structural elements of the ICU webcam carts.
Stewart-Haas Racing is a championship-winning NASCAR team co-owned by NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation.
SHR currently field the No. 4, 10, 14 & 41 for drivers Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and Cole Custer in the NASCAR Cup Series, as well as the No. 98 for driver Chase Briscoe in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
