Wolverhampton pub manager and partner make 2,000 face shields for NHS
More than 2,000 protective face shields have been produced by a Wolverhampton couple through a 3D printer.
Stuart Barnwell, along with partner Kevin Tonry, initially printed out 50 face shields to help frontline workers.
But their production has since grown with hundreds being made for GPs, hospitals and care homes across the West Midlands.
Stuart, who lives at The Gatehouse pub next to Stafford Road with manager Kevin, said: "I'm not a specialist by any means, but I got a 3D printer before Christmas as a bit of a hobby.
"You join Facebook groups and then I saw on social media that people had realised there was a shortage of PPE and were printing the shields off.
"It takes about an hour to print two and we've got more now – but someone with a larger set-up could do about 10,000 a day.
"I think we were one of the first in the Midlands. It's been a real joint effort."
The couple came up with the idea on March 5 in a bid to help those in need before bigger businesses could take over – with flyers being posted around the area.
The 33-year-old, who works for IT company M-Files, set up a fundraising page in the aftermath due to the "overwhelming" demand.
They have even received emotional messages with people pleading with them to produce items to protect their loved ones.
It has led them to donating to New Cross Hospital, GPs in London and Coventry, Warwick Hospital, Alexandra Hospital and care homes across Wolverhampton.
The page has raised almost £3,000 raised – against a £1,000 target – which has been used to pay for more printers and for the materials.
Stuart initially had one Creality CR-10S Pro and one Creality Ender-3 Pro – with a friend, who has offered to help out, having a Creality CR-10S Pro as well.
And, with the money raise through the funding page, they have managed to pay for three more Creality Ender-3 Pros – bringing the total to six.
Each shields costs around 80p to make but takes around an hour for two shields to be made.
"I had two personally and a friend had one and we've ordered three more," he said.
"We did notice the cost of the printers and the plastic have doubled – the plastic has gone from £15 a kilo to £30.
"We've used to get it off Amazon but it's no longer but thankfully we've been able to get some.
"We just really wanted to do everything we can to help."
The spare printers bought to create the masks will be sold off afterwards to raise more money for NHS charities.
To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/face-shields-for-nhs-key-workers
