31 March 2020 – The electronics industry is playing a major role in supporting increased requirements for critical medical devices during the current COVID-19 health emergency. As such, Ventec International Group (Ventec) has been identified by key PCB manufacturers around the world as a critical supplier of materials and services to support these activities. Ventec states that it is completely separate from and unconnected to Ventec Life Systems Inc., the company based in Seattle, US, currently working with General Motors to produce medical ventilators.

Ventec, a world leader in the production of polyimide & high reliability epoxy laminates and prepregs and specialist provider of thermal management and IMS solutions, has a critical role supplying its materials to companies and consortia currently making various types of equipment to help handle the global COVID-19 crisis.

Today’s medical devices, such as ventilators and equipment for many other roles, contain one or more electronic subsystems for functions such as sensing, system control, and power conversion. In the fight against COVID-19, initiatives are under way worldwide to increase production of equipment to existing designs or accelerate introduction of new and more effective products. As a consequence, there is currently an increased demand for certain materials, particularly VT-481 & VT-47 laminate and prepreg for 4, 6 & 8 layer PCBs, which require urgent air drops to support customers in UK, Europe & USA to supplement the local inventories.

Airfreight costs are rising considerably, and available freight capacity is being restricted by the airlines. The Ventec team is working incredibly hard to secure the necessary immediate airfreight capacity, whilst minimizing where possible the added costs that need to be passed on. At the same time Ventec has already started shipping extra volumes of these critical materials by sea container, in order to further build up regional inventories.

Ventec COO EMEA & USA Mark Goodwin said, “Technology companies around the world are responding vigorously to this crisis, delivering equipment for various roles such as administering treatment, protecting caregivers, and assisting research. Ventec is proud to be a part of the unprecedented global response, as we continue to strive for the upper hand over this threat.”

With strict infection control procedures in line with government advice implemented at Ventec’s facilities around the world, the company’s robust supply chain is helping ensure the materials for fabricating essential circuit boards for critical subsystems arrive at manufacturing locations on time, meeting high quality and performance standards. These include laminates and prepregs, and thermally enhanced substrates. The company’s technical experts are also available around the clock to provide advice on their design and use.

For more information about Ventec's solutions and the company's wide variety of products, please visit www.venteclaminates.com.