NWRC deliverys industry support for PPE

North West Regional College (NWRC) has encouraged anyone with 3D printers, laser cutters and rapid prototyping machinery to consider if they can make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to meet the safety needs of medical and care staff during the current Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
By Community Reporter
Published 9th Apr 2020, 05:54 GMT
Manager of North West Regional College’s Product Design Centre Philip Devlin delivers the face guards to the Foyle HospiceManager of North West Regional College’s Product Design Centre Philip Devlin delivers the face guards to the Foyle Hospice
Manager of North West Regional College’s Product Design Centre Philip Devlin delivers the face guards to the Foyle Hospice

The College, through its Business Support Centre (BSC) and Product Design Centre (PDC), based at its Greystone Campus in Limavady, has answered the call by producing over 150 face guards in just two days at its state-of-the-art facility. Production will continue in the coming days.

PDC Manager Philip Devlin revealed that an innovative approach has seen the number of face guards being able to be produced per day increase from under 10 on Monday to over 100 on Friday, by switching from 3D printing technology to laser cutting, optimising the speed at which the guards can be manufactured and assembled.

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He said: “On Monday we were looking at open source platforms which had designs from engineers throughout the world and these were utilising 3D printers to make plastic frames to which a clear plastic guard could be attached. We produced some of these prototypes and provided them to local Health Trusts to get feedback from their clinicians.

“We were delighted to deliver 50 units to the Foyle Hospice and to see the relief on their faces when they received the delivery was worth the hard work and effort that has gone into it to this point and inspired us to try and support more front-line workers.”

Related topics:NWRCCoronavirus