The ventilators will cater to a wider scope of applications for acute respiratory diseases, with add-on smart features and value-add attributes

by LYDIA NATHAN / Pic credit: k-one.com

K-ONE Technology Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, K-One MediTech Sdn Bhd, is set to develop and manufacture licensed ventilators, a first in Malaysia, in an aim to meet the increasing demands and the changing global landscape of the medical devices industry.

K-One’s research and manufacturing of enhanced models of ventilators would cater to a wider scope of applications for acute respiratory diseases, with add-on smart features such as Internet of Things, and value-add attributes to technological developments of the medical devices industry.

The company, in a release yesterday, stated that the ventilators are licensed by the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA-JPL).

K-One CEO Datuk Martin Lim Soon Seng said there is sustained demand for ventilators, as Covid-19 pandemic has boosted its requirements.

“The government’s support will catalyse and accelerate K-One’s efforts in achieving its aspirations to produce a novel ‘Made in Malaysia’ ventilator of international standards.

“The strong backing will not only nurture the local companies to develop indigenous technology, but also facilitate in uplifting local talents, enhancing supply chain competencies and foreign exchange earnings via export growth,” he said in a statement yesterday.

K-One MediTech was awarded a grant by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), which will also support obtaining international markings, such as the Food and Drug Administration and the European CE approvals in meeting the American and European standards, referred to as the gold standard certifications.

In 2020, the industry has contributed a total of RM6.1 billion worth of investments through 51 projects approved by MIDA.

MIDA CEO Arham Abdul Rahman said K-One’s achievement in being the only Malaysian company licensed to produce NASA-JPL’s ventilators represents a huge leap of the local technological capability towards the production of more complex and high technology medical devices to meet demands.

“Given the escalating demands for ventilators worldwide in managing the Covid-19 pandemic, it is certainly an admirable feat for the company to commit and produce affordable ventilators, making them more accessible, in the fight against Covid-19.

“With the growing presence of multinational companies in Malaysia, domestic manufacturers in the medical device supply chain are also being recognised globally,” he said in the statement.

The group said Malaysia should aim to be self-reliant in ventilator supply through domestic production capacity, which is crucial in times of crisis, and also provide an avenue for specialised local technical expertise development universities’ collaborations.