Huge response from manufacturers to virus call

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre has received a massive response from Australian manufacturers keen to step up production of medical supplies vital to checking the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The national register set up by AMGC to collate local expertise and production capacity has received an incredible 1,000 responses from companies willing to help.

AMGC managing director Dr Jens Goennemann said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity, ideas and capabilities that have been put forward to assist with the response from Covid-19.

“From submissions to manufacture ventilators and PPE (personal protective equipment), to manufacturers offering up raw materials and supplies to other businesses,the overall response has been extraordinary.”

AMGC has been able to link together numerous manufacturers who are now collaborating on projects to boost production of making PPE.

Separately the federal government called in mid-March for information from companies able to make surgical gowns, gloves, goggles, hand sanitisers, clinical waste bags, waste bag closure devices (ties), blood and fluid spill kits, mask fit test kits and thermometers.

This is not part of any government procurement yet, raising the question of why action has been so tardy in mobilising manufacturers to fight the virus.

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