Prestige British watchmaker Bremont offers to help manufacture ventilators

Luxury British brand Bremont has offered to switch its Henley-on-Thames facilities from making prestige watches to the manufacture, assembly and testing of precision parts for ventilators. The brand’s co-founder Nick English confirmed that he and brother Giles are waiting to hear back from authorities on whether the government will accept the offer. 

The company was inspired to make the bid to government – to offer services if and when required – following fears that the NHScould run short of ventilators due to the continued pressure of the COVID-19 virus. “At this moment in time, we see there is an opportunity to use our capabilities to help with manufacturing parts for much-needed ventilators,” English told local newspaper, Henley Standard.

“There’s a very similar skill set between the medical and the watchmaking industry — you’re machining and assembling parts in often a very sterile environment,” English said. “A ventilator is made up of many different parts and no one company can make one overnight. However, there are parts which we certainly could manufacture if given the plans. We have got a whole factory which is full of machines which are capable of making these parts. The other part we can help with is assembly. We have got very skilled staff who can assemble things to a high quality.”

The link between medical equipment and watchmaking is not new: the EPHJ Geneva Trade Show displays technology involved in the manufacture of medical equipment, micro-technologies and haute horology. >>

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Ventilators are crucial in the fight against respiratory illness and used to push oxygen into the lungs as well as remove carbon dioxide from the body. 

“Bremont has put a bid in to government to offer our services in this way, if and when required,” English said, adding that the majority of his staff are currently working from home as per government guidelines. “We are yet to hear back but would welcome the opportunity to help our great nation in any way we can at this particularly distressing time.” 

The company shares English’s views, posting on Twitter: “We see it as our duty and an opportunity to use Bremont's capabilities to help with manufacturing parts for much needed ventilators in this country. Bremont has put a bid in to government to offer our services in this way."