COMMENT
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Print – ISSN 1753-0482
Online – ISSN 2049-3312
Printed by: Pensord Press, in the UK
Andrew Allcock, Editor
Communicate, collaborate
Coronavirus, Covid-19, pandemic. Rolling news has never had such a
compulsive, awful fascination. Hardly one element of societal activity is
untouched. And we all now know much more about medical ventilators,
the shortage or potential shortage of which has become the ominous
hallmark of current times.
Events were creeping towards us from December of last year, but not
until early last month did things really hit home here in the UK. By the end of the month, life
had changed massively. But if a key characteristic of this disease is its communicability, the
key characteristic of the age is communication. And it is rapid communication and coordinated
action that is one of the world’s most powerful weapons here.
In mid-March, Twitter reports came from Italy about 3D-printed ventilators. The BBC
picked up the report more fully the following day ( https://is.gd/gahowa ). That same day,
the government put a call asking whether UK manufacturers could turn their hands to the
production and assembly of ventilators. On 18 March, the Financial Times said three
industrial consortia were looking to develop and make ventilators. The report added:
“The target is to manufacture 5,000 ventilators as soon as possible, with a goal of a further
30,000 eventually the figure the NHS needs. Manufacturing was expected to start within a
month.” The three efforts are led by Meggit, Nissan and McLaren. Later in the month came
news of home appliance maker GTech’s efforts, with the company suggesting on Sky News
(22 March) that 1,000/day would be possible soon. RDM Automotive is another UK
operation on the ventilator trail, as is Dyson*, while Oxford University has a working design
available.
Across the world, there open source projects such as Project Open Air (open-source
ventilators, reproduced and assembled locally, worldwide), Open Source COVID19 Medical
Supplies (Facebook group focused on medical supplies design, make, test and source,
based on local needs) and Coronavirus Tech Handbook (crowdsourced resource for
technologists building solutions).
Across social media channels, ‘ventilator’ is a much-used search term delivering many
returns. Offers to help too are many: subcontractor Qualiturn says it is already making parts
for medical equipment makers (LinkedIn: https://is.gd/iligit) and has installed a Star
SR32JII to support its efforts (LinkedIn: https://is.gd/duyidi); machine tool supplier Citizen
Machinery UK says it has equipment in stock to support those making medical parts
(LinkedIn: https://is.gd/paguji); cutting tool expert Ceratizit UK & Ireland has also pitched in
to offer support to companies ( https://is.gd/cagigo ); Europa Tool, too ( https://is.gd/
agiwoj ); and also Carfulan Group ( https://is.gd/gojonu ). Our thanks and best wishes go to
all those playing their part at this time. ■ * As we went to press, news broke of Dyson’s
10,000- ventilator order from the government
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