A group of around 20 海角视频 tech and manufacturing companies are planning to make thousand of life-saving ventilators for the NHS.
The Ventilator Challenge 海角视频 Consortium, which includes companies such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, McLaren and Dell, have joined forces following a plea from Government for support from businesses.
The consortium has been working with the 海角视频’s official regulator and is planning to make more than 10,000 ventilators for the 海角视频, once final approval is secured.
The group says production on its agreed design, which is based on existing technologies and can be assembled from materials and parts in current production, is likely to start this week.
Dick Elsy, chief executive of High Value Manufacturing Catapult - a group of manufacturing research centres in the 海角视频 - is heading up the consortium.
He 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.
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“I am confident this consortium has the skills and tools to make a difference and save lives.”
Engineering giant Renishaw is among the manufacturers involved and says it will be helping from its sites in Gloucestershire and South Wales.
Will Lee, chief executive, said: “I am proud that Renishaw is part of a consortium that will be supplying ventilators to the 海角视频’s National Health Service as part of a global effort to increase the supply of this vital equipment.”
ADS, the 海角视频 trade organisation representing the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, has welcomed the announcement.
Chief executive Paul Everitt said: “海角视频 manufacturers are using their skills in producing complex and precision-engineered equipment to good use at this crucial time.
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“It is incredibly important we all work together and the fantastic people we have working in the aerospace industry stand ready to play their part.”
The news follows an announcement last week by Dyson which said the government had ordered 10,000 ventilators from them, subject to regulatory approval.
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Digger-giant JCB is also poised to re-start production at a factory closed as a result of the coronavirus crisis - in order to join the national effort to manufacture ventilators.
Meanwhile, Rochdale manufacturer Hanson Springs has been drafted in to supply specialist springs to JRE Precision, which is one of the companies helping to meet the shortfall, and Derbyshire-based robotics company Millitec Food Systems has also started manufacturing ventilators.
The NHS currently has access to around 8,000 ventilators, ministers have said, with thousands more on order. It is understood that the 海角视频 needs 30,000 to meet demand.