Exclusive: Wexford product designer creating 3D printed PPE – Buzz.ie

While much-needed PPE is finally starting to make its way to Irish hospitals, there are still plenty of other healthcare workers lacking in protective equipment.

Niall Whitty, a product designer from Gorey, County Wexford, has found himself out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he's decided to use his time to try and fill this gap in his local community.

The 24-year-old is using a 3D printer to create face shields and ear protectors.

He spoke to Buzz.ie about what inspired the project.

"I won a 3D printer while I was in college and it had been sitting in the corner of my room gathering dust.

"I'm in a group of product designers who have created a model for creating face masks.

"There's around 100 of us in the country and after having three or four OK'd, I've stepped it up and I'm making them daily now."

Niall explained that his interest has always been in products that can make a difference in people's lives.

"Even going back to college, I never wanted to design things for the sake of it, I always wanted to make things that can help people.

"For my final year project I designed a cutlery set for people suffering with MS.

"For me the best thing about design is making things that can help people in areas that have been overlooked."

While the design he's using is not HSE approved for hospitals yet, the face shields can help healthcare workers in nursing homes, vets and even GPs.

"It takes me an hour and 25 minutes to make a face shield. It's about providing equipment for people in the interim while manufacturers try to keep up with demand.

"The response has been great and we've had inquiries from GPs in smaller practices, dentists, vets and nursing homes.

"All these people who don't yet have access to protective equipment.

"At the moment we've got a back order.

"We've delivered a couple of face masks to a local nursing home already."

Niall's mother Margarita runs a children's clothes shop in Gorey called Jalanda and they used the shop's social media to spread the word about the project.

The response has been so good that Niall is looking to step up his production of face shields, which will require two or three more 3D printers.

To do this, he's set up a GoFundMePage and he's been "overwhelmed" at the support from the local community.

He's making no profit from the work and all of the money donated will go towards creating as many face shields as possible as demand grows.

At the moment, Niall is making "12 or 13 in a day at a push" but with extra printers he hopes to greatly increase his output.

At the time of writing, Niall's GoFundMe has raised over 2,000.

For Niall, it's all about doing his bit in the battle against the global pandemic.

"A few people have said to me, 'it'll look great on your CV', but it's not about that at all for me really.

"I used to do a bit of work as a magician and it wasn't the thrill of tricking people or anything I liked, it was just about putting a smile on somebody's face and bringing them a little bit of joy.

"I've got the printer here, and with the two new ones I've ordered I'll be able to produce more soon, I just want to do my bit and help out as much as I can."

You can donate to Niall's GoFundMe page here.

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Exclusive: Wexford product designer creating 3D printed PPE - Buzz.ie