Industry effort to produce PPE intensifies
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Thousands of volunteers have joined 3D Crowd UK’s initiative to produce PPE. By 10 April, over 6,000 of 3D printer owners from across the UK had created more than 39,000 face shields, which have been dispatched to 90 NHS Trusts.
More funding is needed to meet requests for further 500,000 shields however, with a fundraiser set up on GoFundMe.
Another fundraiser was started by Duncan Coombe of DCLX at the end of March. Coombe asked for donations in order to purchase 3D printer filament to produce face shields, but in just 24 hours, the fundraiser had collected around £2,500, enabling him and his team of volunteers to expand the operation, which currently comprises 34 3D printers and two laser cutters.
In an update from 11 April, Coombe said: “There is now a team of 14 of us across 10 sites running this kit pretty much 27/4. Literally in bedrooms, kitchens, front rooms, (clean) workshops and so on. The contributions made by the selfless volunteers is breath-taking.” Find out how to get involved or to donate: www.gofundme.com/f/3d-printers-and-filament-for-covid-ppe-masks
Exeter’s Luminous Show Technology is also raising money to manufacture much-needed PPE and hand sanitiser that will be distributed nationally. In several days, the fundraiser has doubled its target from £1,500 to £3,000, with the company having already delivered over 400 visors and 200 bottles of sanitiser to hospitals and care homes. To get involved, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/lets-get-ppe-to-frontline-nhs-key-workers/
(LSi Online)
