Aston Martin – PPE and Free Repairs

In these challenging times we need stories of positivity, stories that remind that despite the current bleak outlook, there are still good deeds going on. Certainly, the manufacturing world has been the bedrock of many such stories, with companies of all kinds stepping in to create PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for front-line NHS staff battling the virus on a daily basis.

The reality is that in these times, the virus and the workload it has created are, to use a popular buzzword, unprecedented. The speed of the spread has far overwhelmed the usual manufacturers of this vital kit, and so others have stepped in to help lighten the load. One being Aston Martin.

The team at Aston Martin have partnered up with Multimac and the Manufacturing Technology Centre to design and deliver vital equipment.

First of all, there is the intubation shield, which is in essence a clear Perspex box that is placed over the patient during intubation/extubation process. This one-piece shield gives NHS workes vital protection, whilst also giving them the access they need to treat the patient. The design by Aston Martin and its partners can be made in one piece, and is also stackable, reducing the space impact in busy hospitals.

Furthermore, using 3D printing technology, Aston Martin is making face shields at the rate of 150 per week, and it’s using its laser-cutting operation that normally cuts vehicle trim to instead cut scrubs for medical workers. This output of vital equipment will go a long way in local hospitals.

Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive, Andy Palmer, said: “The local community is very important to Aston Martin so we are delighted to be able to help our local hospitals. The frontline NHS workers are protecting us from Covid-19 so we want to do what we can and try to protect them by supplying visors and gowns. Times of crisis are also times of great innovation and we are delighted to be working with Multimatic and the MTC to produce the intubation shield for the intensive care staff. Everyone we approached stepped up without hesitation and they should all be proud.”

Chief Executive of the MTC, Clive Hickman said: “It is heartening to see the response we had from Aston Martin and Multimatic. To be able to put the sharpest minds and the best technology together to move this project forward at a rapid rate is testament to the British manufacturing industry.”

And Aston Martin’s good work doesn’t stop there. The workshop and back of house team at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell are running a free labour repair scheme for NHS key workers.

The scheme, which is designed for emergency repairs, is in place to keep key workers mobile. No labour will be charged for emergency repairs, which so far have included engine management issues, brake issues and punctures. The only charge is for parts, but even then, the team at Aston Martin have worked with local suppliers to obtain heavily discounted parts.

Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works, explains: “At this critical time for the NHS, we want to try to do our bit to keep the vital key workers of Milton Keynes hospital on the road if we possibly can.

“All the Works team members involved in the project are offering their skills on a voluntary basis, and they are thrilled to be able to give something back to the NHS at this time of unprecedented pressure on hospital staff.”

If you’re a key worker for the NHS and you’re in the Newport Pagnell area, you can find more details via the Cazana site, KeyWorkerGarages.co.uk. But if you’re not in the area, but you’re a key worker in need, don’t fret, as the same site will guide you to garages in your area that are open and able to help. The team at Cazana and Car & Classic have collected all the information of open garages – we want you to stay on the move. We’re thankful for what you’re doing in these testing times – this is our way of helping.