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LONDON, March 21 (Reuters) - British technology firm Smiths
Group said it was making one of its ventilators
available for other manufacturers to produce, part of a
coordinated attempt to tackle a shortage of life-saving
equipment as coronavirus spreads.
The group's Smiths Medical unit was providing intellectual
property and advice to other companies to make its PARAPAC
Plus lightweight ventilators, and it was ramping up its own
production at its site in Luton, just north of London.
Smiths said it was also talking to contract manufacturers to
add production capacity in the United States and elsewhere.
"We are doing everything possible to substantially increase
production of our ventilators at our Luton site and worldwide,"
its chief executive, Andrew Reynolds Smith, said.
Smiths said it was working with suppliers to increase
production over the next two weeks.
Smiths is a member of one of three consortia of companies
set up by Britain's government to speed up production of
ventilators.
The three teams are led by aerospace engineer Meggitt
and carmakers McLaren and Nissan. European
planemaker Airbus has offered help with 3D technology
and facilities if other companies need it.
(Writing by William Schomberg, editing by Ed Osmond)
