Working based F1 team McLaren Racing (www.mclaren.com/racing) is a member of the Ventilator Challenge UK consortium of high-tech engineering companies that also includes Airbus, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, as well other F1 teams, which have come together to meet the UK’s urgent need for ventilators in the fight against Covid-19.

The aim of the consortium is to develop and build as many ventilators as possible for the NHS in the shortest posible time-frame and to assist in this challenge, McLaren Racing has called upon the expertise and cutting tool technology on offer from Ceratizit UK & Ireland (www.ceratizit.com).

The consortium has been awarded a significant order to produce 10,000-plus ventilators, made up of two models, one currently manufactured by Smiths Medical of Luton and the second, based on a model produced by Oxfordshire-based Penlon.

Ceratizit UK & Ireland had already announced a series of measures to support these activities and were happy to contribute when approached by McLaren Racing.

Initial tooling requirements have been from the Ceratizit drilling range, with high-performance drills provided to produce accurate holes, up to 16xD, in both aluminium and steel.

These have been supported with technical input from Ceratizit’s industry solutions engineer Michael May and technical sales engineer Bob Thompson.

Mr May said: “McLaren Racing is one of several customers that we have been working with on the ventilator initiative, where we are able to help by ensuring they have the right tools when they need them, along with support and expertise we can provide.

“While the initial requirement was for drilling tools, we have made many recommendations across a series of approximately fifteen components, to help improve production of these vital parts.

The situation is one that is constantly changing, we will be supplying whatever is required, such as our AluLine end mills, PCR-AL plunge milling cutters, CCR-AL CircularLine end mills, alongside the WTX-AL & WTX-Ti drills.”

Ceratizit UK & Ireland are happy to report an excellent response to its offer to any company manufacturing ventilators and associated components in support of the fight against Coronavirus.

Mr Thompson said: “We are in a position to provide what help we can and also assist in raising the awareness of Ventilator Challenge UK and highlight the magnificent work that is being done to support the frontline healthcare professionals, who are doing a magnificent job in such difficult times.

If by doing this we can encourage more people and businesses to help, we will have played a small part in that challenge.”

Tony Pennington, Ceratizit UK & Ireland, managing director, said: “As a country we must do everything we can to fight this pandemic and, as an industry, we are well placed to help lead that fight, so our offers of help for any manufacturing company involved in the production of ventilator and associated diagnostic equipment will remain in place for as long as it is needed. If you need our help it is there for you.”

Ceratizit UK & Ireland can offer: full technical support with additional support from its projects team and applications team; free test tools for cutting trials on ventilator projects; priority handling of orders; free delivery no matter what the value of order is; 70% discount on tools used in the manufacture of ventilators until 31 August 2020; and 80 days for returns, instead of the usual 30 days, to allow for freedom of ordering different tools.