Global technology company Smiths (www.smiths-medical.com) has revealed that its medical division is ramping up production of the ParaPAC-plus ventilator at its Luton site to meet increased demand from the UK and Europe.

Smiths Medical is working with its UK supply chain to increase its weekly output and is also in talks with contract manufacturers in the USA to help plug the global shortage.

The Coronavirus pandemic has created a world-wide shortage of ventilators, and Smiths is helping the UK Government with its ambitious plan for 5,000 additional ventilators within the next two weeks — and 30,000 over the coming months.

In addition to increasing its own production, Smiths is playing a central role in the industrial consortium formed by the UK Government to create additional UK production sites and supply chains to deliver the objective.

In addition to providing ventilator units, Smiths is also increasing the production of specialist ventilator hoses through its Flex-Tek division in the USA; these will be made available to ventilator manufacturers world-wide.

CEO Andrew Reynolds Smith said: “During this time of national and global crisis, it is our duty to assist in the efforts being made to tackle this devastating pandemic, and I have been inspired by the hard work undertaken by our employees to achieve this aim.

“We are doing everything possible to increase production of our ventilators at our Luton site and world-wide. Alongside this, we are at the centre of the UK consortium working to set up further sites to materially increase the numbers available to the NHS and to other countries impacted by this crisis.”

Designed and manufactured in the UK, the Smiths Medical ParaPAC-plus provides the versatility to deliver mechanical ventilation, demand and free-flow oxygen therapy — all from one compact lightweight unit.

It has been designed to be rugged and simple to use, and it does not rely on an external electric supply, so it is well suited to the needs of health-care systems around the world.