Printing firms join forces to help protect frontline workers
in 18 other countries where PPE is also in short supply.
The decision by the bespoke print companies to adapt their normal production was led by Prime Group managing director Jon Tolley whose wife is a frontline NHS worker.
He said: “My wife had a shift last week and rang me in the afternoon, deeply concerned as they were running desperately low on PPE, for treating suspected or positive COVID-19 patients.
“She asked me if we could do anything as we use similar materials and the team and I very swiftly worked out that our skills for creating new products quickly, could potentially translate well here.”
The team used an existing visor and reverse engineered it to create their own version, with the prototype tested by clinicians before being given the seal of approval.
Now all three companies are mass producing the visors, which are being delivered to NHS staff across the UK.
Louise Stephenson, Managing
Director for Precision Print in the north, said the company jumped at the opportunity to be part of this vital project.
“The fact that the machinery we use has the capability to create the visors means we can hopefully do something really positive to support our NHS staff during these worrying times,” she said.
Precision Printing, which was set up in 1966, employs 200 staff. Past clients have included Durham University, Emirates Durham International Cricket Club, Sunderland football clubA GoFundMe page has also been launched to help with the logistics, stocking, purchasing and further trialling. Visit https://www.gofundme. com/f/ppe-visors-for-frontline-workers-covid-19.