Dental lab makes 100,000 free face masks ‘to protect frontline heroes’

20 April 2020

A dental laboratory is making free face masks for medical staff on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.  

But now it needs help to boost funds in its mission to supply healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients with vital full-face personal protective equipment (PPE) visors.

Bolton-based Swift Dental Group is planning on creating 100,000 visors using its 3D technology.

In two weeks, it has already supplied hospitals and other health care settings with 1,000 of the visors.

The scheme started after the company ceased production following lockdown and was forced to furlough staff.

CAD/CAM manager, Anthony Wilkinson, began working on ideas to utilise the company’s 3D Nexus printers and quickly came up with the full-face PPE visors.

After a text message was sent out to all HQ staff to volunteer their time to help in the production, all the team at Swift Dental Group got involved.

And thanks to a social media campaign, and through word of mouth, the availability of the PPE visors became widely known.

The company is now inundated with requests, averaging more than 200 a day.

More than £10,000 worth of material has been committed by the firm and now it is asking for support to reach its six-figure target.

Managing director Roy McGillivray said: ‘Swift Dental appreciates the NHS is under immense financial strain at this time and so it was important to us to try to help in any small way we can by providing these masks free of charge to help protect our frontline heroes.

‘Having made significant investment in 3D printing equipment and having a supply of material we realised we could utilise our facility, equipment and expertise to manufacture face visors.’

To donate to the Swift Dental Group’s GoFundMe page click here. Excess funds will go to charity.

If you are an NHS or key worker and need PPE visors, email hello@swiftdental.co.uk or send a message via its social media channels.

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