Emergency bed consortium praised for rapid response to crisis

An emergency bed project linking US Fortune 500 US company Stryker with four Australian manufacturers has highlighted the strength and adaptability of the local sector, according to those involved.

The relief beds were based on a design from the American company and adapted to suit local supply chains and standards. Stryker worked with mattress maker AH Beard, engineering and fabrication firms Varley Group and AmTek Australia, and Fallshaw Wheels & Castors. 

The new beds are designed to provide surge capacity for hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic, and registered to Australian Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) standards. They are designed to be flat-packed and quickly assembled onsite.

Industry minister Karen Andrews said within six days a local supply chain was mapped out in six days by Stryker South Pacific with help from the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, prototypes were made, and had production begun. 

“Not only does this innovation highlight how local producers are supporting our hospitals and ‘pop-up’ care facilities with equipment during this time, but also the potential to support the health-care capacity of our Pacific neighbours if needed,” said Andrews in a statement.

AMGC managing director Jens Goennemann said the project showed the adaptability and strength of the local manufacturing base.

“Via the Stryker project, AMGC has linked a 130-year-old fabrication business, to a 120-year-old Australian mattress manufacturer and a 100-year-old Australian caster company, all of whom are working side-by-side to deliver an advanced manufacturing solution to address the current COVID-19 crisis – it’s innovation and collaboration at its finest,” he said.

Picture: Stryker Emergency Relief Bed with Stryker Australia’s staff L-R: Maurice Ben Mayor, President Stryker Australia; Lachlan McKenzie, Regulatory Principle Stryker Australia; Elias Waked, Business Development Manager, Stryker Medical (supplied)

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