Sarah is a sales & marketing content writer, with ten years of experience within the engineering & manufacturing industry. Working both at Qimtek and on a freelance basis, she can usually be found hammering away at a keyboard or with her head in a pile of engineering drawings.
The world has been caught up in the ever-increasing seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past few months, but it’s safe to say that the worst is far from over. With countries such as Italy in lockdown and their infrastructure & healthcare systems crippled by the demands of the virus, many in the UK are left wondering how long it will be until our own nation is under similar strain. Coronavirus has reached our shores with 55 UK deaths at the time of writing and the number of cases topping 1,500. In an effort to ensure that we are prepared as a nation, Boris Johnson has now called upon major UK OEMs to manufacture ventilators and other medical equipment before the pandemic reaches its peak.
Boris Johnson has now called upon major UK OEMs to manufacture ventilators and other medical equipment before the pandemic reaches its peak.
This latest development comes as many worry about the UK’s supply of medical equipment and whether it is enough to sustain the recovery of those diagnosed with COVID-19. Intensive care wards up and down the country are braced for an influx of patients over the coming months - in turn, it is vital that we act now to ensure that hospitals have a surplus of equipment to deal with demand.
This has led to major UK OEMs such as JCB and Unipart being asked by the government to assist with production efforts. It is hoped that by shifting their manufacturing focus onto medical equipment such as ventilators, the UK will be well-stocked before the pandemic evolves in the coming weeks and months.
Subcontract Engineers Wanted:
The Coronavirus outbreak has also led to untold disruption in global supply chains.
Of course, the Coronavirus outbreak has also led to untold disruption in global supply chains, with many companies struggling to source components across all applications and industries. The UK government’s medical equipment initiative is well-intentioned, but without an abundance of supporting subcontract engineering suppliers, it is unlikely that it will bear enough resources to save lives. This is why it is so important that subcontract engineering suppliers with the capacity and capabilities to assist make themselves known.
Whether you specialise in machining, fabrication, sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, electronics, injection moulding, additive manufacturing, or any other process, your assistance is eagerly sought. Of course, any medical accreditations you hold would also be advantageous.
Medical Manufacturers In Need of Suppliers:
If you’re a medical manufacturer whose supply chain has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Qimtek has a range of supplier members who can assist with quick turnarounds for all manner of processes.
Please send us your drawings to [email protected] as soon as possible and we’ll pass them onto our members to quote. Alternatively, you can upload your drawings to us directly by clicking the button below. Remember, our sourcing service is entirely free for manufacturers to use.
Click Here to Upload Your Medical Manufacturing Drawings.
If you would like to discuss your project in more detail or if you have any questions, please call our sourcing team on 01256 394 500.
I Want To Help - How Can I Get Involved?
UK subcontract engineering suppliers who want to offer their assistance should call the BEIS Business Support helpline on 0300 456 3565 for further information. Their specialist teams have been on hand since 10am on Monday 16th March and will be able to answer your questions.
Alternatively, Qimtek is working very hard to contact the government to provide our members with the drawings needed to assist with this task. However, it would be very useful for us to identify which of our members have the capabilities to get involved ahead of time. If you currently operate within the medical/scientific industry then please let us know as soon as possible.
Qimtek & COVID-19 - A Quick Notice:
Qimtek’s top priority is to keep supporting all of our members and buyers throughout this uncertain period, whilst also ensuring the health and safety of our staff.
Qimtek’s top priority is to keep supporting all of our members and buyers throughout this uncertain period, whilst also ensuring the health and safety of our staff. As an online business, we have the capabilities to work from home, meaning that it will be business as usual until further notice.
In order to best support the companies within our network, we kindly request that our members keep us informed as to their own opening hours/status. We also request that members only submit quotations for projects if they are in a position to fulfil the requirement.
Please be aware that our contingencies may change if the situation develops, but we will keep you informed of any changes as they occur.
If you would like to speak to us further or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us on 01256 394 500.