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

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.