Smiths, the global technology company, (LSE: SMIN.L) announces that its Smiths Medical division is ramping up production of its PARAPAC Plus ventilator at its Luton site to meet increased demand from the UK and across Europe. Smiths Medical is working with its supply chain to increase weekly production over the next 2 weeks. Smiths is in dialogue with contract manufacturers in the US to increase its production levels of ventilators, to support the fight against the global shortage.

The impact of Covid-19 has created a worldwide shortage for ventilators, and Smiths is helping the UK Government deliver its ambitious plan of 5,000 additional ventilators within two weeks, with the intention to scale availability to 30,000 over the coming months. In addition to increasing its own production, Smiths will play a central role in the Industrial Consortium being formed by the UK Government. Smiths will provide IP and technical advice, and make available its PARAPAC Plus ventilator to the Consortium, in order to create additional UK 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 South Carolina, US for a number of ventilator manufacturers across the world.

Andrew Reynolds Smith, CEO of Smiths, 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 substantially increase production of our ventilators at our Luton site and worldwide. 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.

About PARAPAC Plus

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’s been designed to be rugged, simple to use and doesn’t rely on an external electric supply – and so well suited to the needs of healthcare systems around the world.