From concept to creation: Mobile Testing Units
At the start of April, a team of specialist military engineers dedicated themselves to designing the prototype for the Mobile Testing Units (MTU), which can now be seen travelling around the country.
When most people had been at home, 516 (Bulk Petroleum) Specialist Team Royal Engineers — part of 66 Works Group Royal Engineers — were designing a mobile unit to travel around the country in order to support testing for coronavirus.
The team of Royal Engineers were given a mission — to develop a Mobile Testing Unit (MTU) in just 7 days.
There were many options considered but after a significant study, a prototype was assembled using a crew transport van.
Once the van was selected the engineers got to work — they started by stripping panelling, taking seating out and giving the inside a good clean.
The next process was to cover the walls and surfaces in a wipeable material to stop the possibility of contamination.
Overcoming the challenge of closed shops, our Resources Specialist Sergeant hunted all around Nottingham — where the team is based — and used materials found on camp to provide appropriate supplies.
Shelving was fitted in the main body of the van and in the back to provide storage for the kit needed, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the testers.
Finally finished, they were off to showcase the van to the Department for Health and Social Care in Hyde Park Barracks.
Once they had received their approval the build process began…
The van was upgraded over two days of solid work at the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham.
It was lined with a vinyl wrap and the floor replaced with hard-wearing and cleanable stainless steel. The shelving in the back was able to take more weight and in the main body of the van, a compartment for cool boxes was fitted to store test samples. A hand wash unit was also installed externally on the back of the van.
The new mobile testing unit was then ready for hand over. It was delivered to the Welsh Guards, based in London, so that they can travel the country testing key workers.
After a full demonstration, the mobile unit was on the road and by the afternoon they had performed their first tests.
The blueprint was given to Butyl Products who created the first MTU vehicles crewed by the Military.
