Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust has set up a production facility using 3D printers to produce face shields for healthcare staff.
It has used space at its supply chain hub in Dartford to install over 200 printers working 24 hours a day to produce the face shields, nationwide supplies of which have failed to match demand from the NHS with the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic.
3D printing involves building an object, usually by layer by layer, from a computer aided design model. It has the ability to produce complex shapes using different materials.
Specialist in the field iMakr has provided many of the machines with Pi Supply, a manufacturer of hobbyist and industrial electronics, providing support and helping to find volunteers in the 3D printing community.
The ‘3D printing farm’ has now begun to produce around 1,500 face shields a day. They are paired with visors assembled by a team of volunteers include 3D printing enthusiasts, students and staff from King’s College London and Brunel University.
Incredible
David Lawson, chief procurement officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “It’s been incredible to see so many different partners collaborating to get the 3D print farm up and running.
“The team of volunteers, organised by our commercial services colleagues, are ensuring that we’re able to rapidly produce our own face shields and other items to support our frontline staff at the trust. Being able to print our own stock will also allow us to support other trusts in need of these items.”
A spokesperson said the operation has already begun to produce supplies for some neighbouring hospital trusts.
Aaron Shaw of PI Supply said: “Many of our customers are ‘makers’ and hobbyists and we knew that a lot of them have 3D printers. So spreading the word to our customers and asking them to help with printing was an easy way to build support.”
Image from Guy's and St Thomas NHS Trust
