Pair printing hundreds of face shields for workers
A YOUNG woman from Bridgend has been busy making and delivering hundreds of items of PPE (personal protection equipment) to key workers in need.
Georgia Hatton, 20, along with her boyfriend Ken Pearce, 23, have been busy turning their passion for design into producing potentially life-saving equipment.
“At the moment, we’re trying to get out about 200 visors a week,” said Georgia
eorgia is a third year product design student in Swansea, and both she and her boyfriend have a “keen interest” in 3D printing, with Ken recently setting up his own 3D printing business, Lunia 3D.
“Understandably, the majority of PPE is going to the NHS, so we tried to concentrate on other key workers. We’ve tried to direct as much PPE as we could produce to them,” said Georgia.
Georgia, whose mum is a nurse, said the pair felt fortunate to have a skill that could help and make a difference in people’s lives during the pandemic.
She was partly inspired by her former school, Brynteg School, who are distributing PPE within Bridgend.
Taking that inspiration, Georgia and Ken decided to focus on distriburing PPE to key workers in Newport, where Ken’s family is based.
“They’re all 3D-printed and we can do about three every hour, so it’s a day and night operation at the moment.”
The majority of their PPE has been delivered to care homes in Newport who may be struggling with access to the equipment.
Despite many offers, Georgia and Ken didn’t feel right taking donations to help with their work, so have instead set up an Amazon wishlist where people can buy supplies needed for the masks.
She said: “With the kindness of strangers using this Amazon wishlist, we’ve been able to donate over 450 face shields so far. So we would like to highlight a big thanks to everyone who donated and made it all possible.” .