Cummins, Oak Ridge National Laboratory join in face mask filter venture and more business news

N95 respirator with stethoscope. / Photo credit: Getty Images/iStock/Darren415
N95 respirator with stethoscope. / Photo credit: Getty Images/iStock/Darren415

Cummins, ORNL join in face mask filter venture

A collaboration between Cummins Inc. and the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has resulted in Cummins developing the production capacity for enough filter media to supply more than 1 million face masks and respirators per day for use in U.S. health care facilities.

As a leading manufacturer of air, fuel and lube filtration products for heavy-duty diesel engines, Cummins began early this year to explore ways to use their filtration production technology to support health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, ORNL was searching for ways to scale up production of face masks with equipment used to mass produce precursor material for carbon fiber production at its carbon filter facility.

ORNL's research team had been working with the inventor of N95 filter media, Dr. Peter Tsai, to develop a novel in-line charging device that could be placed on the precursor production line to electrostatically charge the melt-blown material made of polypropylene. By electrostatically charging the material with millions of microfibers layered on top of each other, the filter can remove more than 95 percent of submicron particles and viruses like COVID-19.

"We reached our target goal in only a few weeks on pilot scale melt blowing capability at the CFTF and had the capability to produce filter media for 9,000 masks per hour when we connected with Cummins for potential technology transfer and scale up," said ORNL's Merlin Theodore, director of the carbon center.

With a filtration site in Cookeville, Tennessee, just a short drive from Oak Ridge, Holm said that ORNL was the right fit not only in proximity, but also in research expertise.

"We had the nation's experts in material science and fiber technology located about an hour from our primary production location," said Christopher Holm, director of filter media technology at Cummins. "We can now manufacture material that has passed all the required testing for N95 filter media."

Dr. John McCarley elected as TMA officer

The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA), the state's largest professional association for physicians serving more than 9,000 members, has elected new slate of officers for the 2020-2021 term.

Dr. Timothy Wilson, a plastic surgeon at East Tennessee Plastic Surgery and president of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine of Knoxville, was elected chair of the board of trustees for TMA.

Dr. James Cates, owner of Satellite Med in Cookeville, was selected as vice chair, and Dr. John McCarley, a nephrologist with Nephrology Associates in Chattanooga, was re-elected as Secretary-Treasurer.

Mortgage rates stay near historic lows

U.S. average rates on long-term mortgages changed little this week, remaining at historically low levels that has sparked demand for homes.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year home loan ticked up to 2.93% from 2.91% last week. By contrast, the rate averaged 3.49% a year ago.

The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage declined, however, to 2.42% from 2.46% last week.

Housing demand continues as one of few bright spots in the pandemic-hobbled economy. Sales of new homes soared in July, rising nearly 14% as the market continued to gain traction following the spring downturn caused by pandemic-forced lockdowns.

Hyundai, Kia recall 600,000 U.S. vehicles

Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 600,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada to fix a brake fluid leak that could cause engine fires.

The recalls cover more than 440,000 Kia Optima midsize sedans from 2013 through 2015 and Kia Sorento SUVs from 2014 and 2015. Also covered are 203,000 Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs from 2013 to 2015.

The affiliated automakers say brake fluid can leak inside a hydraulic control unit for the anti-lock brakes, possibly causing an electrical short that can lead to fires.

Kia's recall will start Oct. 15, while Hyundai's will start Oct. 23. Dealers for both companies will inspect the control units for leaks and replace them if needed at no cost to owners.

In company documents posted Thursday by U.S. safety regulators, Hyundai said it had 15 reports of engine fires caused by the fluid leaks, while Kia said it had eight. Hyundai said it's not aware of any injuries, and Kia said it had none.

Hyundai said in a statement that there's no need to park vehicles outdoors before the problem is fixed, but if the anti-lock brake warning light comes on, owners should not drive their vehicles and should contact a dealer. They also should disconnect the 12-volt battery by removing the positive cable, the company said.

Ohio speaker says innocent of bribery

The former speaker of the Ohio House pleaded not guilty Thursday to a federal corruption charge tied to an alleged $60 million bribery scheme.

Republican Rep. Larry Householder and four others are accused of shepherding $60 million in energy company money for personal and political use, in exchange for passing a legislative bailout of two nuclear power plants and then derailing an attempt to place a rejection of the bailout on the ballot.

Four defendants pleaded not guilty earlier this month to the charge that they conspired as part of what one defendant called an "unholy alliance" aimed at saving the aging plants.

Householder said Tuesday in his first public comments since a July indictment that he is innocent and expects to be exonerated. He entered his Thursday not guilty plea in a brief videoconference hearing before federal Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman.

A judge allowed Householder to delay court appearances on Aug. 6 and Aug. 20 to allow more time to find a new attorney. Householder's former attorney, Dave Thomas, dropped off the case because of a conflict of interest involving another client represented by his firm.

Growth in the U.S. services sector slows last month

Growth in the U.S. services sector, where most Americans work, slowed in August after big rebounds in June and July, indicating lingering problems stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Institute for Supply Management reported Thursday that its index of activity in the services activity showed a reading of 56.9% in August, down 1.2 percentage-points from the July reading of 58.1.

Any reading above 50 indicates growth in the services sector. By that measure, the services sector has shown growth for three straight months after taking a big hit in the spring when the country shut down to combat the coronavirus.

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