Worcester company GTech's boss Nick Gray and his engineers invented a new ventilator last week. Needs no electricity, runs off hospital oxygen supply. Govt called and they are now on track to produce 30,000 in 2weeks. Nick is also working on designing 2 other models.
Worcester company GTech's boss Nick Gray and his engineers invented a new ventilator last week. Needs no electricity, runs off hospital oxygen supply. Govt called and they are now on track to produce 30,000 in 2weeks. Nick is also working on designing 2 other models.
If that is legit (not questioning you but rather as in if it is workable) that will potentially literally save the lives of thousands of people.
I've just realised that for the next 11 days I'm trapped in the house with my Charlton calendar stuck on Conor Gallagher, staring me in the face while I try to work from home. I'm not psyched about this
If it's any consolation, he's not now playing for Swansea either!
RE engineering and mass production of things to help fight this thing in general....surely there is something that we could do as volunteers to help speed up things....even if just lugging boxes or helping to deliver things to ensure things can be done even quicker.
I'm sure thousands if not millions would step up to help in any way possible.
Checked the papers, here's the FT article. There will be loads more tomorrow GTech reckon they alone could make 30,000in time for the peak in 2 weeks. So we will have surplus to help others.
CoronavirusUK companies join in drive to make coronavirus ventilatorsGovernment enlists industry to fill dire shortage of critical equipment ahead of influx of patients
The government is expected to decide in the coming days on how to plug a shortage of medical ventilators needed to treat coronavirus, with options including mass production of existing designs or a new British model made from scratch.
Companies including Smiths Group, Meggitt, Airbus, McLaren, GKN and Nissan have been working on plans to quickly churn out thousands of the machines, following prime minister Boris Johnson’s plea for industry to lead a national effort to tackle the Covid-19 crisis. The government is aiming to start production by March 30, one person involved said, although this date could be pushed back.
The National Health Service has access to 8,175 ventilators. But government officials have asked UK industry to deliver 5,000 within a month, with a total requirement for 30,000 to support patients expected to have severe respiratory difficulties as the virus spreads. This is a problem as the largest manufacturers of the devices are overseas.
Following a telephone call last week between the prime minister and dozens of industrial companies including Dyson and JCB, a consortium of aerospace and automotive groups have led the charge.
Different industrial consortiums were “working furiously” over the weekend, according to a person involved in the process. Some efforts are focused on whether it is possible to adapt and ramp up production of a portable ‘Parapac’ ventilator manufactured by Smiths, as well as adapting other ventilator designs.
The aerospace and automotive consortium being co-ordinated by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult research centre is also looking at a “clean sheet” design for a rapidly manufactured ventilator system (RMVS). It will be capable of operating 24 hours a day for 14 days straight, said one person with knowledge of the subject. Meggitt and others are hoping to present a prototype early this week.
At the same time, the industrial consortiums are talking to manufacturers of heavy-duty ICU ventilators about possibly licensing their design for manufacture in the UK.
“The companies will take instruction, if it is the prototype or a licensed design [that is chosen], and work out how to make it quickly,” the person said. “People are working through how the licensing might work. I am fairly confident this will be sorted out in the next three to four days.”
Meanwhile, Smiths is set to quadruple production of its Parapac plus mobile machines made at its Luton plant to around 200 to 300 a week. These do not require external power and are sold to the NHS for less than £5,000, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Airbus could potentially supply 3D printed components.
Additional factory lines could also be set up to manufacture the machines at a GKN plant also in Luton, or at sites in north Wales run by Airbus and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
“If we end up with more ventilators than the UK needs that means we will be able to help people in other countries,” said Rosa Wilkinson, spokeswoman for the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
Of course a potentially cynical angle to that even by virtue of the concept of Russian troops on soil in western Europe but not the thread for that and will take it as a positive story.
The good news is my wife managed to find a supermarket which had shelves that were totally full of Eggs, Pasta, meats, veg and fruit and she was allowed to buy one packet of 9 loo rolls and there was no queue !
The bad news is this Morrison's was in Dorset where my wife and daughter went for a long weekend and 135 miles from home. Expensive on petrol to go back next weekend.
The good news is my wife managed to find a supermarket which had shelves that were totally full of Eggs, Pasta, meats, veg and fruit and she was allowed to buy one packet of 9 loo rolls and there was no queue !
The bad news is this Morrison's was in Dorset where my wife and daughter went for a long weekend and 135 miles from home. Expensive on petrol to go back next weekend.
What Morrisons was it!?! My tesco was fucking bare this arvo.
The good news is my wife managed to find a supermarket which had shelves that were totally full of Eggs, Pasta, meats, veg and fruit and she was allowed to buy one packet of 9 loo rolls and there was no queue !
The bad news is this Morrison's was in Dorset where my wife and daughter went for a long weekend and 135 miles from home. Expensive on petrol to go back next weekend.
What Morrisons was it!?! My tesco was fucking bare this arvo.
Around 5,000 active cases remaining in China, similar numbers in the UK.
They really do seem to be on the mend, however that number remains significant enough that if the people of China break their isolation, the numbers could easily spike again.
Comments
French authorities have heard about this and the Channel Tunnel will to be used to bake a massive garlic bread. Half for France half for England
Thanks for this news.
Where did you read it MrWalker?
Released to the press yesterday after they fixed a glitch. Should be on main news today..
Big boost to the 8,000 currently available.
He is now working on a mini one whilst the factory sources some high volume component manufacturers for version 1
I'm sure thousands if not millions would step up to help in any way possible.
Great cause for optimism and made my day this has.
GTech reckon they alone could make 30,000in time for the peak in 2 weeks.
So we will have surplus to help others.
https://www.ft.com/content/51ac1c14-6bb1-11ea-89df-41bea055720b
The government is expected to decide in the coming days on how to plug a shortage of medical ventilators needed to treat coronavirus, with options including mass production of existing designs or a new British model made from scratch.
Companies including Smiths Group, Meggitt, Airbus, McLaren, GKN and Nissan have been working on plans to quickly churn out thousands of the machines, following prime minister Boris Johnson’s plea for industry to lead a national effort to tackle the Covid-19 crisis. The government is aiming to start production by March 30, one person involved said, although this date could be pushed back.
The National Health Service has access to 8,175 ventilators. But government officials have asked UK industry to deliver 5,000 within a month, with a total requirement for 30,000 to support patients expected to have severe respiratory difficulties as the virus spreads. This is a problem as the largest manufacturers of the devices are overseas.
Following a telephone call last week between the prime minister and dozens of industrial companies including Dyson and JCB, a consortium of aerospace and automotive groups have led the charge.
Different industrial consortiums were “working furiously” over the weekend, according to a person involved in the process. Some efforts are focused on whether it is possible to adapt and ramp up production of a portable ‘Parapac’ ventilator manufactured by Smiths, as well as adapting other ventilator designs.
The aerospace and automotive consortium being co-ordinated by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult research centre is also looking at a “clean sheet” design for a rapidly manufactured ventilator system (RMVS). It will be capable of operating 24 hours a day for 14 days straight, said one person with knowledge of the subject. Meggitt and others are hoping to present a prototype early this week.
At the same time, the industrial consortiums are talking to manufacturers of heavy-duty ICU ventilators about possibly licensing their design for manufacture in the UK.
“The companies will take instruction, if it is the prototype or a licensed design [that is chosen], and work out how to make it quickly,” the person said. “People are working through how the licensing might work. I am fairly confident this will be sorted out in the next three to four days.”
Meanwhile, Smiths is set to quadruple production of its Parapac plus mobile machines made at its Luton plant to around 200 to 300 a week. These do not require external power and are sold to the NHS for less than £5,000, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Airbus could potentially supply 3D printed components.
Additional factory lines could also be set up to manufacture the machines at a GKN plant also in Luton, or at sites in north Wales run by Airbus and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
“If we end up with more ventilators than the UK needs that means we will be able to help people in other countries,” said Rosa Wilkinson, spokeswoman for the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
Of course a potentially cynical angle to that even by virtue of the concept of Russian troops on soil in western Europe but not the thread for that and will take it as a positive story.
I'm so so proud of our healthcare workers and people in design and industry like this. The more we make the more we can help everyone. Excellent news
A long way off, I know, but what a thing to look forward to.
The bad news is this Morrison's was in Dorset where my wife and daughter went for a long weekend and 135 miles from home.
Expensive on petrol to go back next weekend.
If I told you that I would have to...
They really do seem to be on the mend, however that number remains significant enough that if the people of China break their isolation, the numbers could easily spike again.
However right now, that's some amazing progress.