WEC Group begins producing ventilator parts for NHS

Darwen-based WEC Group has repurposed some of its manufacturing facilities to build parts of ventilators for the NHS as well as key medical equipment for the Nightingale Hospitals being built across the country.

WEC engaged with the VentilatorChallengeUK consortium, which was tasked with producing 10,000 ventilators to the NHS on a tight timeframe.

The consortium, spearheaded by some of Britain’s best-known aerospace, Formula 1 and medical sectors companies, such as BAE Systems, Airbus, McLaren, and Penlon, has leveraged their significant UK industrial, technology and engineering expertise to rise up to this mammoth task.

After a swift pre-qualification process, WEC’s Laser Engineering division managed to win an order to despatch a first batch of laser cut and folded parts to the consortium. The order was manufactured and despatched within just 24 hours from the initial receipt of the enquiry and after successful approval of the parts, WEC has now moved on to larger batch production, with ongoing weekly deliveries.

WEC Group also managed to win a large laser cutting and stainless steel fabrication contract from one of their existing clients to manufacture key medical equipment for the new Nightingale Hospital being built at the NEC in Birmingham. The new hospital will initially have 496 beds divided into four wards, with potential to be increased to up to 4,000 beds if needed.

Wayne Wild, WEC Group’s commercial director, said: “After superb first response from our marketing and sales teams to offer our full range of services to the new ventilator supply chain, we’ve managed to secure some key contracts for the NHS and we’re very proud to help the cause in lots of different areas by producing parts and equipment to fight the virus. We are also immensely proud of our team who worked around the clock to exceed a hugely ambitious timeframe!"

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