Guyson International Ltd, the UK’s foremost industrial finishing equipment manufacturer, based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, is urgently building precision cleaning equipment for the VentilatorChallengeUK Consortium. A consortium of significant UK industrial, technology and engineering businesses from across the aerospace, automotive and medical sectors, has come together to produce medical ventilators for the UK

Guyson manufacture their Kerry branded 'Microsolve 250', a solvent based ultrasonic cleaning machine, which provides precision cleaning of components used in the ventilators and at present supplies them to one of the OEM ventilator makers. The Microsolve 250 Mono-Solvent system has three process stages comprising of ultrasonic cleaning, followed by vapour rinsing and freeboard drying. Crucially the cleaning process utilising the Guyson System is already cleared by regulators and can support immediate upscaling of production

The VentilatorChallengeUK consortium is committed to support the NHS’ requirements to treat coronavirus patients and Companies in the consortium have now received formal orders from the Government in excess of 10,000 units.

Having already supplied two existing demonstration units to the consortium Guyson is now focussing its attention on the manufacture of new systems. Guyson employees have been diverted to this critical manufacturing task and are working longer shifts and committed itself right throughout the Easter period to deal with production of the machines. The first of the new units will follow the most recent refurbished system in 2-3 weeks, a manufacturing lead time which is usually 8-10 weeks.

Guyson has liaised very closely with members of the VentilatorChallengeUK consortium who have offered their own resources to facilitate the fastest possible delivery. Ultimately Guyson has reacted manfully and been able to call on its own supply chain and business partners and rise to the challenge.

Mark Viner, MD of Guyson's Blast & Wash Division states that “The response from the team here at Guyson has been immense, everyone is very much aware of the importance of this initiative and is keen to do their bit, our welders, fabricators, fitters, electricians and test engineers offering literally whatever it takes to get the job done. Two of our team have even made the 10 hour round trip to our electro-polishing supplier, a critical part of the Microsolve manufacturing process saving us valuable assembly time”. Mark goes on to say “I’m very proud of the response from the Guyson team and we are all grateful to be able to play a small part in support of the real heroes on the front line in the battle with the coronavirus.”

5th July 2020

Today, the work of VentilatorChallengeUK, the Consortium of UK aerospace, motorsport, automotive and medical businesses concludes after more than doubling the stock available to the NHS.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, said: “The Ventilator Challenge has been a great success and I would like to thank every manufacturer and designer, and their incredible workforces, for the huge part they’ve played in the national effort to protect our NHS and save lives. In around three months, industry has stepped up to make 14,000 new machines to save lives on the NHS frontline and to help safeguard against any future outbreak.

The Ventilator Challenge has shown that UK manufacturing always rises to the challenge at a time of national need. Everyone involved is truly a hero of the coronavirus crisis.”

Read the full statement from VentilatorChallengeUK here