Defence giant ramps up efforts to deliver equipment to the NHS frontline
Employees at defence giant BAE Systems are continuing to ramp up efforts to donate vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the NHS, with the aim of delivering more than 145,000 face shields to the frontline in the coming weeks.
The firm, which has a land combat vehicles operation in Telford, said all of its industrial-scale 3D printers are now producing face shields, with supplies being delivered every day, directly to frontline medical staff around the UK.
Its smaller scale 3D printers are also coming online to support the PPE effort, producing face shields at a smaller volume as well as innovative ‘door claws’ that help care homes reduce the spread of infection through door handles.
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To rapidly increase the numbers arriving on the frontline, it is sourcing tens of thousands of additional face shields through its suppliers. Together with its 3D printed face shields, it has delivered more than 24,000 units to date, with another 40,000 due to arrive in the next week to local communities in Bristol, Glasgow, London, Kent, Manchester, Portsmouth, Preston and Southampton.
Richard Hamilton, manufacturing and support director at BAE Systems, said: “We’ve had an amazing response to our recent announcement that we’re donating PPE to the NHS. This has been a real team effort at a difficult time for everyone.
"Employees across our Air, Maritime and Electronic Systems sectors, as well as our suppliers, are all rallying to play their part in the national endeavour as we work together to ramp up and further increase the supply of vital protective equipment to the frontline.
“As a result of everyone’s collective efforts, we’ve been able to respond to requests to send equipment directly to medical staff in our local communities working in GP surgeries, the ambulance service and hospices, as well sending supplies to NHS hospitals and trusts.”
