A college group based in Warwickshire and Worcestershire is helping to produce face shields for the NHS to protect frontline workers in the fight against the Coronavirus outbreak.
WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) is using 3D printers from its engineering departments to make main parts for face guards which provide vital protection for those working within the health service.
The college group’s engineering staff, which are based at Rugby College, Warwick Trident College and Evesham College, responded to an urgent appeal from a company involved in 3D printing.
Mark Bonham, assistant principal at WCG, said: “When our engineering staff received the callout for help with 3D printing face shields for the NHS, we had absolutely no hesitation in doing what we could to help.
“When face-to-face learning across all of our colleges was suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak, one of the lecturers took the portable 3D printers home to be able to support the students remotely with online lessons and ongoing project work.
“The machines can be adapted to make most things and so as soon as we received the designs, we were able to start producing main parts in order for them to then be sent for assembly and distribution to the NHS.
“We are printing on a daily basis and will continue doing so for as long as the need is there. The face shields are a crucial part of the personal protection equipment for the incredible staff working within the health service and we are proud to be supporting them.”
The 3D printing is one of a number of initiatives being undertaken by WCG to support frontline workers during the pandemic.