Novocastrian Manufacturer Supplying Life Saving Ventilators

Today the NSW Government announced that Newcastle local business Ampcontrol is one of two NSW organisations to produce life-saving emergency ventilators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Ampcontrol engineers designed and delivered the first functional emergency ventilator prototype to the John Hunter Hospital Simulation Unit for testing by specialist clinicians in just 18 days.

Production of 10 pilot ventilators will now commence undertaking further clinical assessment and testing with NSW Health, with the objective of enabling 600 ventilators to be rapidly built in the Hunter region if the need arises.

Ampcontrol Managing Director & CEO, Rod Henderson said, “We are so immensely proud to be able to do our part and lead this critical health project in the manufacture of emergency ventilator solutions. Knowing that our ventilator could help save lives in the fight against COVID-19 is incredible."

In collaboration with local clinicians and two Hunter-based specialist electrical engineering companies, Safearth and Newie Ventures, the brain power of over 20 engineers across multiple disciplines worked around the clock to design and produce the emergency ventilator prototype.

To quickly accelerate its knowledge of ventilator systems, the team engaged with specialist clinicians from Hunter New England Local Health District and the University of Newcastle to guide solutions and minimise clinical and deployment risks, as well as coordinating with other groups working with NSW Health on other prototype ventilator solutions.

“We specialise in resources, infrastructure, and energy solutions, and what the team has achieved in partnership with clinicians in such a short time frame is nothing short of outstanding and a testament to the engineering excellence and ingenuity in our country. We have been able to rapidly swing our world-leading expertise and production facilities into manufacturing critical emergency medical equipment right here in the Hunter.”

We have such highly advanced manufacturing capability and ingenuity in our country. It is so important that industry and Government work together so that we can continue to produce innovative solutions and products here in Australia that make a difference to people’s lives around the globe”, Rod added.

ABOUT AMPCONTROL

Australian owned and operated, Ampcontrol is a leading global manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment in the resources, infrastructure and energy sectors. Founded in Newcastle in 1968, Ampcontrol has grown to over 1000 employees across 30 operations around the world.