Fairmont Medical Products has joined a consortium in conjunction with Greys Innovation to produce a disposable ventilator circuit suited for the Notus emergency invasive ventilator. The program has been tasked to build 2,000 invasive ventilators in Australia as part of the nation’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
As part of the nation’s response to fight the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Federal Government along with the Victorian Government have funded the notus Emergency Invasive Ventilator Program. The initiative involves a group of Australian manufacturing companies and engineering firms working together to produce 2,000 invasive ventilators in Australia. Fairmont Medical products is one of the local manufacturing companies assisting with the project.
Fairmont Medical is an Australian owned manufacturing and warehousing facility located in Melbourne, Victoria. For over 30 years Fairmont has been manufacturing and distributing quality medical devices throughout Australia and across the world.
Greys Innovation are leading the notus Emergency Invasive Ventilator Program and contracted Fairmont Medical to design and develop the crucial ventilator breathing circuits for the ventilator machines.
Fairmont’s fully integrated manufacturing capabilities enabled the company to respond quickly to the demand for the breathing circuits. Fairmont’s manufacturing facility encompasses 50,000 sq. ft of land and houses state of the art machinery such as injection moulding, plastic extrusion, ultrasonic welding, UV adhesive curing systems, precision tooling and high-speed assembly conveyor machinery within a 350-class clean room environment.
When the pandemic hit there was no manufacturer of invasive ventilators in Australia, however Victoria has the highest concentration of leading engineering and manufacturing companies in Australia. Fairmont Medical, as well as the other members of the consortium, was able to respond quickly to the needs of the government by rapidly adapting manufacturing capabilities to produce the ventilator breathing circuit. Being able to deliver this critical product in short time frame highlights the strength and importance of supporting local Australian manufacturers.
The global pandemic has reinstated the importance of utilising the extensive manufacturing capabilities that exist locally in Australia, namely Victoria and the ability for manufacturers to fill gaps in supply chains locally.
Manufacturing is a keystone of the Victorian economy, providing valuable exports, significant economic growth and is Victoria’s 3rd highest employer. Fairmont Medial employs more than 100 people, creating real jobs for a broad range of men and women across the state. Now more than ever, a strong, internationally competitive manufacturing industry is needed to ensure a balanced economy, sustainable growth and a prosperous Victoria.
The ventilators that have been built by the Victorian consortium of local manufactures will help COVID-19 patients requiring breathing assistance when their lungs start to fail due to the virus.
“Hopefully they won’t all be needed, but these machines will ensure that our hospitals are well equipped to withstand future surges in intensive care cases.” – Industry Minister Karen Andrews.