A consortium of UK industrial, technology and engineering businesses from across the aerospace, automotive and medical sectors, has come together to produce medical ventilators for the UK's battle aganst the coronavirus.

The Ventilator Challenge UK Consortium is led by Dick Elsy, CEO of High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a group of manufacturing research centres in the UK.

Over the past week the consortium has been working to investigate production of a range of ventilator design options to meet a high-level specification for a Rapidly Manufactured Ventilator System ("RMVS") developed by clinicians and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency("MHRA").

And Gloucestershire-based engineering and manufacturing firm Renishaw has been part of the consortium, which has been evaluating all requirements to design, manufacture, assemble and test components, as well as finished medical ventilators.

Which is why we have singled it out to be part of our Punchline Business and Community Champions - a growing list of firms we have chocen to showcase because of their stirling efforts for their communities (you can find out a little more below).

Will Lee, chief executive of Wotton-under-Edge-headquartered Renishaw, said: "I am proud that Renishaw is part of a consortium that will be supplying ventilators to the UK's National Health Service as part of a global effort to increase the supply of this vital equipment."

The companies have now received formal orders from the Government in excess of 10,000 units and has revealed it is in a position to accelerate production of an agreed new design, based on existing technologies, which can be assembled from materials and parts in current production.

The device is said to combine existing proven clinical equipment and is the clinicians' first choice for the RMVS.

The regulator has been involved throughout and we anticipate a straightforward and very prompt regulatory sign off after the final audit.

The consortium is now working at full speed to take the necessary steps in order to increase production of this design. Production will begin this week.

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The consortium also includes another producer of medical ventilators and it will provide them with additional manufacturing support and assembly facilities in order to scale up production of a second existing ventilator design which has full regulatory approval.

In response to the NHS' requirements to treat coronavirus patients, there are a range of other projects aiming to increase ventilator production.

The Ventilator Challenge UK consortium said it was "committed to playing its role in delivering both medical ventilator designs to he required specifications and, in conjunction with these other companies, organisations and groups, aid the delivery of additional ventilators to the NHS".

A statement from the group said the companies involved have taken many of their people from key company projects to do this and serve the national need.

Dick Elsy, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult's chief executive, said: "This consortium brings together some of the most innovative companies in the world. Every day, their highly-skilled staff collaborate to create solutions that help millions of people, and this project is no different.

"They are working together with incredible determination and energy to scale up production of much-needed ventilators and combat a virus that is affecting people in many countries. I am confident this consortium has the skills and tools to make a difference and save lives.

"We know that there is intense public interest in the work we are doing, but you will appreciate that the consortium is fully focused on this time-critical project and must prioritise the task at hand in meeting the challenge." 

If you have a story of a business or community champion you think worthy of recognition please contact Punchline.

The campaign is being sponsored by Gloucestershire's local enterrise partnership, GFirst LEP, and the Growth Hub - whcih operates the chain of business support hubs located county-wide.
To be featured the business does not have to be a plc or a giant from its sector - like Renishaw. If anything we made an exception in its case, such is the magnitude of what it is involved in. The campaign is about showcasing some of the incredible efforts being made by county businesses and business people to help their communities during the current crisis. Please do tell us your stories so we can tell everyone else - and hopefully inspire more good deeds.

Email: andy@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk  or mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk.

Sponsored by:

GfirstLEP

https://www.gfirstlep.com/ 

info@gfirstlep.com 

The Growth Hub Gloucestershire

https://www.thegrowthhub.biz/ 

talktous@thegrowthhub.biz