Whittam Cox Architects are pleased to be supporting the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic by producing face masks for NHS staff and key workers at Sheffield’s Teaching Hospitals.

The practice is 3D printing head bands and chin supports for single use face visors, which are then delivered to a central hub in Sheffield to have plastic visors fitted. Once assembled, the masks will be sterilised and packaged, and put into the NHS supply chain.

Ashley Turner, CEO at Whittam Cox Architects said, “It is logical for us to use our resources to help NHS staff and key workers in this national emergency. We are very willing to contribute our time, equipment and materials for this special purpose. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, and this is an important way for us to be able to do our part by providing these essential pieces of equipment to those who need it most.”

The initiative is being run by 3DCROWD UK, who are asking for volunteers and crowd funding to help support those on the frontline. Over 5500 volunteers have now signed up to the initiative and between them have provided 345,000 shields.

If you’d like to get involved, please visit https://www.3dcrowd.uk/

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CBE+ will be required to machine critical components for the ventilators in an extremely short timeframe to support the UK NHS throughout the COVID 19 pandemic.

CBE+, a Chesterfield based manufacturer, has recently enhanced its efforts in the medical sector after being approached by a group of companies tasked with the production of ventilator parts.

Ventilators are vital pieces of equipment in the fight against coronavirus, taking oxygen into the lungs and removing carbon dioxide when people are too ill to breathe on their own. The UK government aims to add more than 1,200 ventilators to its system in less than two weeks, and is forecasting it will need 30,000 at the peak of the outbreak. Governments and health authorities have called on non-health industry manufacturers and universities to help meet these drastic demands.

For this project, CBE+ have partnered with other specialist manufacturers from the aerospace and automotive sectors. CBE+ offer CNC machining and Electroless nickel plating to AS9100 certified standards and have therefore have previously focused on the aerospace, defence and oil & gas markets. Both companies have turned their full attention to producing the time critical components to support the national health service.

Fabio Cosenza, business development managers for the CBE+ group said: “We were honoured to have received a request to help the national effort by producing these parts: I knew we had to make it happen. We have created additional capacity to be able to machine these components on time, we understand how important they are to the nation and the team are working 24 hours around the clock 7 days a week to help with the shortage. I salute the flexibility and commitment of our staff who are dedicating days, nights and weekends to this project.”

Marie Cooper, CEO said “I am extremely proud the business and every single employee for working hard through these challenging times. We are considering the health risks and being extremely careful to follow government guidelines regarding those with symptoms to ensure we keep our employees and their families safe and can guarantee business continuity to produce these critical components for the country.”