With the Supercars season on a temporary break, long time supporters of MTA Queensland Triple Eight Race Engineering have diverted their focus to assisting in the fight against COVID-19, using their manufacturing resources and facility to develop a prototype low-cost ventilator.

Working with local medical experts and the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning in Queensland, the team of six put together the first proof of concept ventilator in just four days.

According to team principal Roland Dane, the final prototype, which took just a couple of weeks to finalise, could be put into production within days if necessary.

“We were able to utilise 3D printing services provided by our team partner HP and we believe the ventilator could be put into production within a short space of time but we are continuing development with the help of the Department of State Development,” said Dane.

“The Department of State Development have helped us identify and build supply chains for required componentry and ventilator accessories such as alarm circuitry, tubing and masks.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to overwhelm hospital resources around the country, an SOS call has gone out to all Australian manufacturers to donate their resources where they can to develop temporary emergency medical equipment, a call Triple Eight Race Engineering was all too prepared to take up.

According to Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick, the initiative and innovation shown by Triple Eight Race Engineering was exactly the type response the country needed at this time.

“This is what Queensland manufacturing is all about. Hard work, ingenuity and solving problems,” said Mr. Dick.

“It’s so impressive that, within just a few weeks, this company has transitioned their capability, intellect and resources to a product that could ultimately save lives.

“It’s also fantastic to heat that Triple Eight has focused on using readily available, local materials.”

Proving that production of the ventilators can be done with a short turnaround, Dane said Triple Eight Race Engineering were taking a ‘we’re here if we’re needed’ approach.

“This is very early days, and we have to make sure all regulatory requirements are met, but we stand ready to help in whatever way we can.”

Source: Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning | From Racing Cars to Ventilators… Queensland Ingenuity at its best

1 April 2020