AirLife
Website
Basic Information
AirLife is recognized as the leading global company in consumable breathing products, focusing on respiratory, anesthesia, and patient monitoring devices. Formerly known as SunMed, AirLife is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, with manufacturing and distribution sites across the United States and a presence in over 97 countries worldwide. The company is an FDA-registered and ISO-13485 certified manufacturer and distributor, boasting over 1 million square feet of manufacturing space and a team of more than 120 engineers. AirLife emphasizes exceptional service, innovative product development, and cost-effective solutions, with a strong commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities. The company supports the dignity and human rights of all in its business practices and recently expanded its market reach through strategic acquisitions and partnerships.
Sources: About AirLife Global Presence AirLife Completes Acquisition of Avanos Medical’s Respiratory Health Business
Awards
AirLife received the 2024 Supplier Partner of the Year and Medical/Surgical Excellence Awards from Vizient, as well as the 2024 Innovation Award from EMS World. [Source: https://myairlife.com/news-articles/airlife-receives-innovation-award-from-ems-world/, https://myairlife.com/news-articles/airlife-receives-2024-supplier-partner-of-the-year-and-medical-surgical-excellence-awards-from-vizient/]
Certifications
- FDA-registered manufacturer and distributor
- ISO-13485 certified
- Manufacturing for the UK at an ISO 14001 certified plant
Key Features
AirLife is a leading North American manufacturer and distributor of consumable medical devices, primarily focused on anesthesia and respiratory care. The company offers a wide portfolio of products across several categories: airway management, respiratory products, emergency care, anesthesia, resuscitation, patient monitoring, and home care. AirLife serves acute care, EMS, surgery centers, and home care sectors. Notable product lines and brands under AirLife include Air-Q, AirFlow, BALLARD, Circulaire II, GreenLine, HEART, Salter Labs, SunMed, and Vital Signs, among others. The company is recognized for innovation with proven reliability, providing ready and reliable solutions for emergency and challenging airway scenarios, such as extensive endotracheal tube portfolios and advanced intubation technology. Additionally, AirLife emphasizes corporate responsibility, aligning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities with its business strategy. Recent milestones include product innovations, industry awards, and strategic partnerships, such as distributing the visionPRO Video Laryngoscope and expanding operations.
Source: https://myairlife.com
Featured Products
AirLife offers a comprehensive range of respiratory and airway management products. Key feature products include:
AirLife Secure™ Products – A line focused on secure airway management:
- AirLife Secure Flexible Anesthesia Mask
- AirLife Secure Jackson-Rees Circuit
- Air-Q®3 Supraglottic Airway
- SuperNO2VA™ Et Nasal PAP Ventilation System
Respiratory care products:
- Oxygen delivery systems
- Capnography devices
- Aerosol therapy devices and prefilled large volume nebulizer (with sterile water and sodium chloride options)
- Incentive spirometers for deep breathing therapy
- Comfort Soft Plus® Nasal Cannulas
- Bronchial hygiene devices
- Sleep diagnostic systems
Emergency and resuscitation products:
- Manual resuscitators (AirFlow™ Manual Resuscitator and SafeT T-Piece Manual Resuscitator, the latter designed for neonatal use with precise pressure settings)
- Resuscitation bags with pressure manometers and adjustable PIP/PEEP
- Lavage devices and airway adjuncts
Critical care and accessory items:
- Closed and open suction systems
- Endobronchial and endotracheal tubes (cuffed, standard, preformed)
- CO2 indicators
- Cannula accessories
- Filters, adapters, and connectors
Sources: AirLife Products Respiratory Category Emergency Category AirLife Secure Category Prefilled Nebulizer Adult Comfort Plus Cannulas Incentive Spirometers AirFlow Manual Resuscitator
Marketing Focus
AirLife focuses on providing high-quality consumable breathing products, including respiratory, anesthesia, and patient monitoring products. Their marketing emphasizes exceptional service, streamlined ordering, dependable availability, and efficient product delivery. They highlight quality, cost savings, and environmental responsibility as points of differentiation. The target audience includes healthcare providers and facilities needing reliable anesthesia and respiratory solutions for patient care.
Sources: About AirLife AirLife Homepage
Technical Strength
AirLife demonstrates significant technical strength as a global leader in consumable breathing products, focused on respiratory, anesthesia, and patient monitoring devices. They maintain a wide range of product offerings including oral and nasal airways, disposable and reusable laryngoscopes, endotracheal tubes, circuits, manual resuscitators, hyperinflation systems, filters, nebulizers, pressure infusion bags, CPAP masks, and more. AirLife partners with leading medical device companies through their OEM and private label division, providing product design, manufacturing, and delivery support. Their facilities include a headquarters with cleanroom and distribution center in Michigan, extensive manufacturing in Mexico and China, and a global footprint for production and innovation with locations in the USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company emphasizes continuous improvement via collaborations with clinicians and industry leaders, and maintains high product standards through ISO, FDA, and MDSAP regulatory certifications.
Source: About AirLife
Environment / Society / Governance
AirLife is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 and actively takes steps to minimize the environmental impact of its products, activities, and services. The company annually completes an ESG analysis using EDCI (ESG Data Convergence Initiative Emissions Reporting) for GHG emissions and the SASB standards relevant to medical device manufacturers. The ESG analysis benchmarks AirLife’s performance in areas such as product safety, ethics, design lifecycle management, and supply chain management, and is reported to the board of directors.
As of their latest reporting:
- For 2022 (baseline year): Scope 1 emissions were 1,312 tCO2e, Scope 2 emissions were 9,742 tCO2e, and Scope 3 emissions were not yet measured (Total: 11,054 tCO2e).
- For 2023: Scope 1 emissions increased to 1,853 tCO2e, Scope 2 increased to 14,936 tCO2e, and Scope 3 emissions are still not yet measured (Total: 16,789 tCO2e).
To progress toward Net Zero by 2050, AirLife has initiated environmental management measures, including:
- Manufacturing products for the UK at an ISO 14001 certified plant
- Reducing and improving packaging sustainability through a new carton project
- Advocating for LED lighting and electric vehicle charging at headquarters
- Shipping directly to UK customers to reduce logistics emissions
- Promoting remote/web-based meetings to cut travel
- Providing educational materials to employees on Net Zero and environmental responsibilities
Their ongoing Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP), expected to be completed by April 2025, will further inform interim targets and expanded emission reporting.
Source: AirLife Carbon Plan Statement August 2024
Pricing Plans
Not specified.
Testimonials
“The hiring process at AirLife was unlike anything I’d experienced before. I had the opportunity to walk through the plant and explain how I’d approach different real-life scenarios. It was hands-on and gave me a clear sense of the processes and expectations in place, which was both engaging and insightful.” Source
“My experience at AirLife has taught me that consistency, an eagerness to learn and grow, and hard work pays off.” Source
“Three key things drew me to AirLife: my passion for medical devices and patient safety, the close-knit culture, and fair, competitive compensation. From the start, everyone I interacted with was helpful and genuine, which made a lasting impression. After joining the team, my onboarding experience was seamless. The orientation stood out from anything I’d experienced.” Source
“I would say that AirLife is a large company with a close-knit feel. Even as we continue to grow, there is still great camaraderie among teammates with aligned goals.” Source
“The most passionate folks are in this business because breathing is so fundamental to life.” Source
“AirLife [Open] allowed the nurse to administer meds better through mouth opening without disrupting the delivery of oxygen and noticed less shift of the mask. Impressed with access to be able to suction and clean patient’s mouth, along with continued oxygen delivery while eating/ drinking. Love adjustability.” Source