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Applied Scientific Technologies make face visors for NHS staff

The concerns raised about the limited Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provisions globally, including for UK primary care staff and a government call for additional PPE supply, have led one North Yorkshire business to utilise their expertise and respond with the development of a 3D visor product in under 24 hours. Applied Scientific Technologies have quickly produced their new visor and delivered to services including the NHS and Care Workers.

It comes as there is a national shortage of PPE for NHS staff on the frontline during the fight against Covid-19. This has resulted in many key workers suffering injury from wearing uncomfortable equipment for long hours or going without vital protective wear. Applied Scientific Technologies immediately knew that it not only had the in house design skills to design a product solution, but thanks to a recent partnership with the University of York, it had acquired the means to manufacture a completed reusable visor. So far, they have delivered 100 free reusable visors to local frontline workers and, thanks to a Go Fund Me page, plan to deliver a further 200.

Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) was launched in May 2017 based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire and specialises in the development of robotics and hardware integration into life and physical sciences, industrial laboratory and medical applications. The business has secured a University of York PAPI (Product and Process Innovation) grant toward the purchase of a 3D printing suite. The equipment will enable AST to undertake in-house rapid prototype manufacture; utilising plastic components with a high grade finish in their prototypes and final products.

Director, Garry Lofthouse explained that “the PAPI grant provided the tools for us as a business to provide important help to front line NHS staff and other key workers needing PPE equipment. I never envisaged AST using the 3D printing technology as we have, but immediately recognised as a business we could do something to help”

PAPI can support SME (Small Medium Enterprise) businesses located in the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding regions with 40% grants of up to £20k. This covers the districts of York, Harrogate, Selby, Craven, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and East Riding. A separate project also runs in the Leeds City Region. The project remains open for applications and businesses can quickly check their eligibility and apply on the website at papi.org.uk or by calling the PAPI team on 01904 32 8076.

The Product and Process Innovation project is part-funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by the University of York.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by PAPI Project .