Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of the Hinduja Group and India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, has announced its initiatives in the Ventilator Making and Distribution efforts. The company, through its strong country-wide network and its digital tools, has been at the forefront, fighting against Covid-19 over the last few weeks in terms of providing GenSets, operating free community kitchens, providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), masks and vehicles for sanitation of streets and campuses.

It has now taken the responsibility for the requirements in Covid-19 Patient Breathing Assistance that includes mid-range and high-end ICU ventilators required for patients at different stages of disease progression.

A team of 50 Ashok Leyland engineers have been working since the end of March to make a simple yet intelligent ventilator which is low in cost but with all the essential features to aid first mile ventilation including necessary sensors and controllers for volume and pressure monitoring, and safeguards. The ventilator development is now complete. Testing, certification and clinical trials will conclude in the next few weeks, with mass manufacture of this system, starting this month.

In the mid-range and high-end ICU ventilator segments, Ashok Leyland is working with two Chennai-based ventilator manufacturers - Kriti Kare India Pvt Ltd and Phoenix Medical Systems Pvt Ltd. Under this arrangement, Ashok Leyland is offering help with component sourcing, supply chain, logistics, man power for production planning and in-line quality which will help both the ventilator manufacturers to overcome the challenge of large-scale production in a short duration of time.

“Our Sourcing and Engineering teams have been working 24x7 on these three projects. We are humbled that our efforts in developing these ventilators and support to ventilator makers will help the Government to prepare themselves for the future needs of people needing ventilator care,” commented Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland.

For more information: www.ashokleyland.com