|
|
Carn 'visor army’ takes the fight
to Covid-19
27.05.20
Spraoi agus Spórt in
Carndonagh are playing a key role in the fight
against the deadly coronavirus pandemic by
manufacturing laser-cut face shields or protective
visors that can be worn by those working on the
frontline in community nursing homes, supermarkets,
retail and construction businesses across Inishowen.
Using state-of-the-art digital technology available
in its ‘FabLab’ they have produced visors that are
proving invaluable to frontline workers. |
 |
|
Healthcare workers, from Nazareth
House nursing home in Fahan, wearing the protective
visors. |
A FabLab, or Digital
Fabrication Laborator, is a facility where people
can turn their ideas into new products and
prototypes, using digital design, 3D printers,
laser-cutting and other advanced digital
manufacturing technology.
Spraoi agus Spórt plan to scale up the onsite
production of their protective visors at its FabLab
to over 500 per week. This comes as government
restrictions are eased for local businesses and the
possibility looms of a potential second wave of
Covid-19.
As Eamon Durey, Spraoi agus Spórt FabLab Project
Manager explained: "FabLabs are underpinned by two
key concepts - access to technology that unlocks the
ability to produce prototypes and personal items,
plus links to a global network of like-minded
people. Within hours of the realisation that there
was a problem in accessing PPE, makers across Europe
and beyond were developing and sharing designs that
could be fabricated quickly and cheaply in local
community-based FabLabs like ours in Carndonagh.
Importantly, this response has highlighted the
ability of agile, local ‘makerspaces’ to meet the
needs of their communities not only in times of
crisis but also in terms of promoting self-reliance.
Indeed, local needs can be best served by local
solutions".
Co-founder and CEO of Spraoi agus Spórt Helen Nolan
added: “It is clear from the national response to
the lockdown that local manufacturing of PPE such as
visors has played a critical role in protecting
frontline workers within local communities. It is
also key that a community like ours in Carndonagh,
at the periphery in terms of national and regional
infrastructure, has the capacity to respond quickly
and directly to local demand rather than finding
ourselves at the end of a very long supply chain.
“An example of this is when we recently delivered a
consignment of our protective visors to Simpson’s
Supermarket in Carndonagh which was warmly received
by staff. Indeed, as staff members Caoimhe and Niamh
said: “These visors are exactly what we need – and
we feel much more protected when we are wearing
them. They are also so comfortable to wear and it’s
great that they are being produced locally in
Carndonagh. Thank you Spraoi agus Spórt!” |
 |
|
Frontline workers, Caoimhe & Niamh
from Simpson’s Supermarket in Carndonagh, wearing
the protective visors. |
The FabLab in
Carndonagh plans to produce and distribute more
visors to nursing homes, local businesses and
frontline workers in the coming weeks. Helen said:
“With the easing of restrictions there will be a
much greater demand for PPE and protective visors,
for example from retail shops, opticians and
hairdressers – as well as a continuing need within
our healthcare sector”.
The introductory offer for the protective visors
manufactured at Spraoi agus Spórt’s FabLab is €5,
which includes a visor and four refills suitable for
use with the clip-style frame. Spraoi agus Spórt
will also donate one visor to a frontline healthcare
worker for every visor purchased by a local
business.
If you are a local firm, nursing home or other
facility who would like to find out more about the
face shields / visors or place an order please
contact Spraoi agus Spórt on 074 937 3303 or email
support@spraoiagussport.ie. |
|
