A Devon business has offered to help make much needed ventilators to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
AnTech, which provides products and drilling to the oil and gas industry, approached the Government after it called for "a national effort for ventilator production" last weekend.
The Exeter-based company offered up its manufacturing base and skilled staff to help make the vital equipment.
AnTech, which provides products and drilling to the oil and gas industry, approached the Government after it called for "a national effort for ventilator production" last weekend.
Although they have yet to hear back on whether their base and staff are needed to help, they’re still keen to be a part of the national effort to ease the strain of COVID-19.
Toni Mizsweski, founder of AnTech, said: “We are coming into unprecedented times where things could get out of control, so the more people that can help, the better.
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"As the effect of all this hasn’t hit us as a business yet, we do have capabilities in time of national need. It would be a shame if in two months time we ran short of ventilators that we hadn't put our hand up to help. We are doing what lots of others are prepared to do.”
Last week the health secretary urged manufacturers who can to "turn production and their engineering minds" to the production of ventilators.
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Mr Hancock said: "We start with around 5,000 ventilators, we think we need many times more than that and we are saying if you produce a ventilator then we will buy it. No number is too high."
AnTech is one of around 1,400 businesses to have signed up to help, Mr Mizsweski said.
“We pulled every single string we could- we even emailed Dominic Cummings,” the founder added.
“We got to the Treasury and got through to Matt Hancock’s secretary. We got onto the system to say we have the capability in terms of manufacturing to offer it up.”
But as of yet, the local company hasn’t heard back from the Government.
British companies are said to have formed three teams, led by aerospace engineer Meggitt and carmakers McLaren and Nissan to
European planemaker Airbus has offered help with 3D technology and facilities if other companies need it.
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"It's unbelievable. In a matter of days some of these top engineering companies have already turned their hand to this effort and already got their prototypes out," Mr Hancock said.
"We need as many as you can possibly make and we will buy them."
But the scale of the production is yet to be seen with manufacturers last week warning that they were yet to receive a "detailed blueprint" of what the government needed.