QinetiQ in Farnborough supports local Covid-19 response and PPE requirements

Image courtesy QinetiQ

The company has been producing and supplying face shields to Hospitals, Doctors’ Surgeries, Nursing and Care Homes and Ambulance Services all over the country, including local Frimley Park Hospital and healthcare settings in the Fleet and Farnborough areas.

Around 1,500 have been donated so far, with an aim of up to 2,000 reaching various settings as the work continues over the coming weeks. Another 200 face shields will be arriving at Frimley Park Hospital and local Dr’s surgeries this week

Investment and expansion of QinetiQ’s 3D printing capability across its UK sites enabled a suitable design to be created, which is in-line with the requirements of standard-issue face shields

The design includes: the frame 3D printed in a stack, made of PLA (a biodegradable material), an A4 PVC binder folder cover as the visor; an elastic strap for adjustability around the head and a 10mm strip of neoprene where it sits on the user's forehead to allow for greater comfort with extended use

The team of QinetiQ employees have completed the process from start to finish; designing, producing, assembling and distributing face shields themselves, whilst adhering to social distancing and safe working practices

By the end of just the first week the team had already produced 426 fully assembled face shields, individually bagged and boxed and delivered

The team now aims to continue to work on producing them for as long as possible.

Cathy Kane, Engineering Director at QinetiQ, said: “We are really proud of the hard work and endeavour of our employees to respond to this national challenge and delighted to be able to do our part locally to help our fantastic health workers. At the very heart of our business is problem solving, with the ability to quickly pivot our people and equipment to the challenge at hand - we were delighted to be able to put this capability into action for such an important purpose.”