Midhani supplies nickel wire used in 30,000 ventilators

HYDERABAD: A critical component in ICU ventilators is indigenously manufactured and supplied by city-based defence PSU, Midhani, at Kanchanbagh. The 160 micron pure nickel wire used in oxygen sensors for manufacture of 30,000 ventilators was supplied by Midhani.
Bengaluru-based defence PSU, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), in collaboration with Skanray Technologies Ltd, Mysuru, produced the ventilators on a war-footing in the wake of the Covid-19 situation.
“We have delivered more than the requirement. If necessary, we can provide more at a short notice,” Midhani chairman and managing director Sanjay Kumar Jha told TOI. The Union health ministry took a decision that ICU ventilators should be manufactured indigenously and approached the DRDO with the proposal.
Until the pandemic, ventilators were imported but considering the fact that all countries were affected due to Covid-19 there was a big possibility that the requirement of India may not be met by the international market. That is why the plans for indigenous production was made. While BEL was given the task of manufacturing the equipment, Midhani was asked if it could come up with the pure nickel wire with the specifications. “Within 45 hours, we were able to complete the task given to us. This was done on a war-footing. We had never previously made the nickel wire as per the specification that was required. But, we delivered,” Sanjay Kumar said.
Midhani has expertise of wired drawing at the level of 1mm or 1.2mm but for the requirement sought, it was a challenge and that was to provide 1/10th of the thickness it had made for an earlier use. “We then fixed the parameters and optimised it. That is the skill Midhani has where requirements can be delivered even in short notice. Defence requirements are unique and urgent,” Sanjay Kumar said.