You probably know Apple because of its computers and phones, but the trillion-dollar tech company has established roots in all sorts of industries — from music, to TV and banking. Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund, which it uses to invest in manufacturing companies, is just another example of company’s many diverse endeavors.
On Thursday, Apple announced that it was awarding $10 million to COPAN Diagnostics, a manufacturing company that creates sample collection kits for COVID-19. This new funding will help COPAN Diagnostics reach its goal of manufacturing one million kits per week by early July, and distribute these kits to hospitals across the country. Apple will also source materials and equipment for COPAN Diagnostics, including some equipment that Apple is helping design.
The $10 million investment will also help COPAN Diagnostics expand to a larger new facility in SoCal, which is expected to create over 50 new jobs. COPAN Diagnostics is currently located in Murrieta, which is in Riverside County.
“We’re excited to forge this new relationship with Apple, whose teams are already making a huge difference with our efforts to scale up the production of our sample collection and transport kits,” Norman Sharples, CEO of COPAN Diagnostics, said in a statement. “Collection and transport kits are a critical component in the fight against COVID-19. At COPAN, we’re excited and grateful for this partnership with Apple as our strong beliefs of innovation, quality, and excellence in manufacturing and design are perfectly aligned. Apple’s operational expertise will help us increase delivery of important pre-analytical tools for medical professionals across the country at this critical time.”
COPAN Diagnostics has been manufacturing laboratory supplies for decades, including pipettes, universal transport media for viruses, swabs, inoculating loops and more. The company is also known for inventing the flocked swab, a redesigned swab that helps with sample collection. As the United States sees a nationwide shortage of coronavirus-related testing materials, COPAN has been able to ramp up efforts to address the increase in demand.
Apple has made a number of significant efforts to help combat COVID-19. It has also donated to Global Citizen and America’s Food Fund, distributed almost 10 million face shields and over 30 million face masks, partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a symptom checking website and created contact tracing tech with Google.
“We feel a deep sense of responsibility to do everything we can to help medical workers, patients, and communities support the global response to COVID-19,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “COPAN is one of the world’s most innovative manufacturers of sample collection kits for COVID-19 testing, and we’re thrilled to partner with them so they can expand as we work to address this critical issue for our nation.”
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