Aerospace engineering company leads consortium to develop critical ventilators

A global engineering group which has major facilities in Coventry, Basingstoke and Birmingham has responded to the UK government's call for  additional medical ventilators.

Meggitt is leading a consortium of UK aerospace suppliers, said to include McLaren and Nissan, working to develop and produce, in large volumes, a ventilator that meets their requirements for a rapidly manufactured ventilator.

The news comes as the company, which specialises in high performance components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and selected energy markets, provides a trading update.

In light of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy and the wider aerospace sector, Meggit says it is focussing on ensuring the safety of  employees and the continuity of its operating businesses worldwide.

Meggitt employs more than 12,000 people globally across 42 sites and 10 countries.

Despite a rapidly changing external environment, trading in January and February was in line with expectations. Details of its trading performance in the first quarter of 2020 will be contained within its Q1 trading statement scheduled for 23 April 2020.