Valeport is helping with the national effort to support the NHS by making essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline staff during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Members of our Research and Development team have turned their attention to making protective face shields for NHS workers. Providing a barrier against Coronavirus, the special face shields are created using a 3D printer and plastic.
Jay Nicholson Head of Research and Development commented: “We volunteered to make the masks as we felt it was so important to help join the fight against COVID-19 and wanted to use our capabilities and facilities to do this.”
Richard Southall, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer led the production of the masks at Valeport and produced two different designs, one which allows wearers to replace the acetate shield themselves and a more robust design that can be cleaned and reused.
Richard added: “We have access to one 3D printer, so the numbers of face masks we can make is limited. However, we’ve had really positive feedback from those that have received them, who have found them comfortable to wear and noting that importantly the visor shield sits nicely away from the face so it doesn’t steam up.”
To date, Valeport has supplied the face masks to care homes local to Valeport and doctors’ surgeries in Devon and Oxfordshire and has recently received a repeat order for more.
Valeport will continue to produce the face shields, which are made to an approved design, whilst there is a demand for them.
If you would like more information please contact Jay Nicholson using the details below.
Jay joined Valeport in 1992 after having spent 9 months previously as part of his sandwich degree course in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Having spent much of his early career working on many of the company’s highly successful products. Most recently, he was a major contributor to the company’s highly successful SWiFT product range. Jay now heads a team of 14 highly skilled Engineers. He is also very much involved in the firmware development of a number new products.
Outside of work, Jay enjoys competing in Triathlons locally in Devon and Cornwall as well as anything Engineering based from old Land Rovers to DIY.