Sarginsons Industries is one of a string of Coventry and Warwickshire manufacturers ready to answer the call to support the Government’s drive to make new ventilators to help in the fight against Coronavirus.
The Government is looking for businesses who can support in the supply of ventilators and ventilator components as well as businesses specialising in design, rapid prototyping, contract or product assembly, certification/regulation/testing, logistics and medical training.
Following the appeal, Sarginsons Industries in Coventry was among the first of nearly 30 companies to contact the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub.
Gavin Shipley, Sarginsons Technology Centre Manager of Sarginsons Industries based in Torrington Avenue, said: “If the ventilators require aluminium cast and machined housings, bases or support brackets, we would like to support with rapidly supplied sandcast components.
“We have supplied safety critical components to the oil and gas industry and also have experience with the medical sector. We could move very quickly on this.
“In terms of the pattern tooling for the parts, we believe we could get those very quickly from another supplier in Warwickshire, which would help to speed up the process.
“We are very keen to support this effort and have given the CWLEP Growth Hub information on our expertise and capacity to help if we can.”
Craig Humphrey, managing director of the CWLEP Growth Hub, said the response to the appeal from businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire had been staggering.
He said: “The response to the Government’s appeal to manufacture ventilators has been fantastic and we thank all the manufacturers in Coventry and Warwickshire for their offers of help.
“We are co-ordinating this with manufacturers’ organisation Make UK to pass on this vital information to the Government.
“We also put out a plea on behalf of the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire in Walsgrave to provide goggles and protective screens on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and we received over 1,500 responses in 24 hours which is amazing.
“The level of support despite these difficult times is fantastic and if we continue to pull together, we will be helping to provide the NHS with the medical equipment needed to benefit people who have been diagnosed with the Coronavirus.”
Charlotte Horobin, regional director for the Midlands and East of England of Make UK, said: “Manufacturers are playing a key role in supporting the national effort, supplying vital medical equipment and also adapting their operations where possible and I’ve personally been inundated with companies contacting me asking how they can possibly help.
“Through our close links to Government, we’ve been working to ensure manufactures expertise is used in fighting the very current challenge of Coronavirus.
“It’s also been extremely heartening to hear most businesses are looking to lend the services of their business.”