Waterlooville company manufactures tens of thousands of ventilator parts

The West Group Ltd, in Waterlooville, is part of a nationwide consortium, made up of companies across a range of industries and sectors that is producing two types of ventilators to be used by the NHS to treat Covid-19 patients.

The manufacturer of fluid control parts and components is producing mechanisms that control fluid and gas for these ventilators.

The team is working around the clock on providing critical parts to a multitude of companies involved in the production of ventilators, in particular two companies that have been nominated by the government to produce ventilators to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The firm is currently working on parts for ventilators totalling over 45,000.

It has shipped parts across the world, including to Australia, Mexico, Brazil and the USA.

The firm’s director, Darryl Osborne said: ‘When we were asked to help produce ventilator parts for the NHS, our whole company became galvanised in working hard to make sure that the urgently required parts were made and supplied in time. We have been working evenings and weekends and have had to increase our production staff numbers in order to build the numbers required. I am very proud to know that all the hard work and extra hours we are putting in will be making a difference and saving lives.

‘It is great to know that we, as a UK manufacturer, we were able to support the country in its time of need, as we know that a lot of businesses have become reliant upon overseas manufacture and supply.’

With its team of engineers, production room facilities and cutting-edge machinery, West Group is also now planning to help produce Covid-19 testing kits and pressure care mattresses for hospitals across the UK.

Other firms in the city, which are involved in the consortium and are manufacturing parts for ventilators include Havant-based Monolution, Portsmouth-based Formaplex and BAE Systems in Hilsea.