Ricoh 3D is set to produce 40,000 face shields every week for frontline healthcare workers.
The Telford-based company is in discussions with medical establishments and NHS Trusts across the UK to ensure that effective protective equipment arrives where it is needed most.
Just 24 hours after receiving an initial design file, the Ricoh team 3D printed a prototype. Having since refined the design to enhance comfort and reduce contamination, the finished product has now been approved for production.
It is estimated that in London alone more than 150,000 face shields will be used every day during the crisis and Ricoh will upscale to full production utilising a 150-tonne injection moulding machine.
‘Our site is uniquely set up to take a product from concept to prototype to serial production, and that is exactly what we have done here in a very short timeframe,’ explained additive manufacturing and moulding specialist Mark Dickin.
‘This really is a testimony to the strength of our supplier relations and the cross-functional team who made it happen so quickly. Local suppliers for the foam, elastic strapping and visor components have come forward across our production print, design solutions and quality assurance networks.’
Jason Pott, lead research nurse for Emergency Medicine at The Royal London Hospital, added, ‘In our tests, staff commented on the comfort of Ricoh’s solution over existing equipment. We tested across a range of male and female staff in the emergency department with different head shapes, hairstyles and headscarves – everyone was happy with the fit. Innovations like this help staff in the NHS to remain safe while caring for those in need.’
