Coronavirus: Meggitt, Nissan, McLaren to produce ventilators

Aerospace and automotive companies are racing to manufacture medical ventilators in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Aerospace manufacturers led by Meggitt, and automotive companies led by Nissan and McLaren respectively, are aiming to develop a ventilator prototype by next week, according to the FT.

Dick Elsy, chief executive of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, is leading the project which hopes to produce 5,000 ventilators as soon as possible. Ultimately the goal is to produce 30,000 more.

The initiative is a response to a call to arms by prime minister Boris Johnson, who on Monday held a conference call with 60 of the UK’s leading manufacturers to help plug the shortage of medical equipment amid the Covid-19 crisis.

https://twitter.com/MattHancock/status/1239521271282577416?s=20

Mr Johnson set the ambition for industry to manufacture as many new ventilators as possible in preparation for a predicted surge in demand for NHS equipment, as new cases of coronavirus increase by the day.

The aerospace consortium includes Airbus, GKN, Thales and Renishaw. Consortium leader Meggitt produces oxygen systems for aircraft.

Other companies have also shown interest in joining the initiative, including Unipart, JCB and aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce.

A spokesperson for Rolls-Royce said: “We understand that the Government is exploring ways in which businesses can help deal with the outbreak of Covid-19. As they shape their plans, we are keen to do whatever we can to help the Government and the country at this time and will look to provide any practical help we can.”

Unipart confirmed that the company had been approached by the government: “Unipart is not currently engaged in the manufacture of medical products although our company has significant levels of expertise in volume manufacturing, some very skilled engineers, and world-leading capability in logistics. We’re pleased to be involved in such an important project and doing everything we can to help.”

The JCB chairman, Lord Bamford, said: “We have been approached by the prime minister to see if we can help with the production of ventilators. We have research and engineering teams actively looking at the request at the moment. It’s unclear as yet if we can assist, but as a British company we will do whatever we can to help during the unprecedented times our country is facing.”

Ventilator Challenge www.ventilator.herokuapp.com