Engineering consultant Horiba MIRA has made its test facilities ‘COVID-secure’ in three weeks.
Most operations were suspended on April 13 at its 850-acre site in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK, and its facility in Basildon, Essex, but the first wave of furloughed employees returned to work by May 4.
Around two-thirds of the 600-strong team have been working at home with remote technology but 40 specialized on-site facilities,, including its 100km proving ground are essential for work in the automotive and defense sectors.
Staff have been brought back on-site with the implementation of health and safety processes to prevent coronavirus transmission.
Declan Allen, managing director of Horiba MIRA, said, “The impact of the pandemic on our customers and our suppliers has been significant, and that in turn had a dramatic impact upon our company. We swiftly responded to this, as all companies have needed to, but we’ve used that time to ready ourselves for recovery and can now scale up our services in response to customer demand safely and effectively.”
Horiba MIRA has also supported the region’s NHS, care homes and hospices in recent months, including using 3D printers to create face shields for carers.
Allen said, “During this incredibly challenging time, like many other businesses across the region, we have tried to find ways to support not only the NHS but also the care and hospice sector. As we continue to move forward, we hope to continue to aid those impacted by coronavirus while supporting the Midlands and global automotive sector to get back on its feet.”
