INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
supplies, protective equipment and more are being developed to help where possible
hoping that its novel approach can help address the impending lack of space that hospitals and healthcare facilities will encounter.Jupe is
combating the ongoing global COVID-19 crises
The company says that its mobile spaces can be produced at around 1/30th the cost of a standard hospital room, and shipped anywhere using
existing logistics infrastructure.The Jupe mobile shelters come in three distinct versions, including a Rest unit equipped with beds for
providing a place to rest and sleep for medical professionals working on the front lines; a Care version that includes an off-grid solar
self-contained ICU for those patients that require critical care, including readings for use with ventilators and specialized personal
protective equipment.Founders Dr
Jeff Wilson (founder of modular hospitality housing company Kasita) and Cameron Blizzard, along with core advisor Dr
Esther Choo (who also led the #GetMePPE hashtag campaign for sourcing protective equipment for healthcare workers), have obviously moved
quickly to get this initiative up and running, but they are already building some of their solutions in Texas
as possible.[gallery ids="1966012,1966011,1966010,1966009,1966008,1966007,1966006"]In terms of portability, Jupe says that its solution can
be flat-packed and stacked for transport of up to 24 units at a time on a 40-foot flatbed trailer, towed by a heavy-duty pickup truck
It says it can load as many as 500,000 on just one cargo container ship for overseas transport, too
expert predictions about even a successfully flattened curve of COVID-19 spread, there will be a need for more critical care beds than are
available for the foreseeable future in most regions
Texas manufacturing facility is currently working on its first 24 prototype units, but it hopes to scale production in part by leveraging
the available automotive manufacturing supply chain in the area
The Jupe units will sell for between $14,500 and $78,000 for the Rest and Care units respectively, with different configurations affecting
the cost, and the ICUs will be available for $99,000 and above
volunteer basis; it has been bootstrapped financially by the founders to date, with the startup seeking donations and additional investment
as a means of continuing to fund operations and production.
