Workers at a factory on the Isle of Wight are expected to be involved in making 10,000 ventilators to help the NHS save lives in the battle against coronavirus COVID-19.
Under the codenames Project Oyster and Project Penguin, manufacturing firms across the country have joined forces to switch their production lines to producing medical ventilators that will be used in hospitals and ambulances here in the UK.
It is understood that the Government has ordered an initial 10,000 ventilators from Ventilator Challenge UK, which is made up of 14 different firms such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN. This is in addition to 10,000 being created by Dyson.
According to a report by ITV’s Business and Economics Editor, Joel Hills, GKN Aerospace in East Cowes will be part of the manufacturing process meaning Isle of Wight workers will be directly helping to save lives of citizens across the United Kingdom.
Engineers will be working to manufacture the Parapac 300 ventilator, as well as working on a new design for a battery-powered, portable ventilator.
Production is expected to begin tomorrow (Monday). All of the ventilators will be sold to the NHS at cost price with no company making a profit.
Great this Island can do something to help.
Hope all staff stay safe and well.
Well done GKN!! And all the guys working!!!
Amazing well done guys
At least now there’s justification for gkn to be working , but make sure the bosses issues ppe or there won’t be staff to assist in the making of ventilators they might need themselves ,,,, be safe
Great work keep safe
There was always justification for GKN to continue. They work on military contracts, which the government confirmed must continue to operate.
Let’s hope the iow gets to keep some and they don’t all get shipped off to other parts
Well done to all at GKN who are involved. Keep safe
How amazing…this is so typical of the UK to pull together…we would all have helped the NHS years ago if we had been asked….well done .
Well done Gkn workers !!!! Make sure you all Keep Safe though and GKN protects you !!
Go you well done, go isle if wight
Well done!
Can we please make sure they don’t all get shipped off to the mainland then
Do hope that the Isle of Wight hospital St Mary’s gets some of these ??.
Weĺl done them do the Island proud !
Keep safe while working lads , an good on ya . Most of these people have families to go home to , so I will say again, stay safe