Sheffield 3D Printing Firm Produce PPE For Frontline NHS Staff

Sheffield-based Printing firm, 3D Folkes, is the latest firm to join a new consortium of 3D Printing specialists, 3DCrowd, volunteering to produce PPE for frontline NHS staff.

As of today (14 April), the company has ceased all commercial 3D printing and is now exclusively producing parts for medical face masks and visors for NHS hospitals around the country.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortages have been at the forefront of coronavirus news in recent weeks, with health professionals around the UK speaking out about dangerous shortages of PPE, and the number of staff falling ill within frontline NHS hospitals. The company will be producing 3D-printed headbands, which clip on to acetate film to create medical visors.

The headbands produced at 3D Folkes’ Sheffield Headquarters are made from recycled PETg filament and printed on a range of plastic filament-based 3D printers. Each unit costs around £1.50 to produce and takes approximately 1 hour to print. 3D Folkes, along with other members of 3DCrowd, are producing the parts at cost, as part of an ongoing effort to assist the NHS in the fight against coronavirus.

The Sheffield-based company has a short, but varied history in 3D printing, producing anything from intricate machine parts to prosthetic limbs. Ben Folkes, Managing Director said, “A few years ago, we were fortunate enough to be able to help a little girl called Charlie who was born without her right arm, by 3D printing her a new one”.

“Once again, given the current crisis, we find ourselves in a position to be able to help. As of Tuesday, we officially halted commercial 3D printing at our Sheffield base, and have allocated all of our 3D printing resources to the production of medical visor masks for frontline NHS staff”.

“We are just one of over 130 3D printing companies and individuals working together to provide supplies to those fighting coronavirus”.

Ben has urged fellow product design and 3D printing companies who are in a position to help to contact him.

“The group needs to grow in order to keep up with demand; anyone who believes they have the capacity to assist in the production of PPE can contact 3D Folkes, and we’ll put you in touch with the relevant people to discuss files and materials etc.”

3D Folkes will be shipping its first run of masks to Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital this Friday and expects to ship hundreds, if not thousands more to hospitals around the country in the coming weeks.