Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1228992
02.04.2020 TRENDSETTING PAUL COCKS MALTA Enterprise are supporting Invent 3D project in the production of Covid0-19 protective visors through the use of 3D printers to ensure that frontline staff at MaterDei Hospital get the piece of protection wear that is required in these circumstances. This was announced by the Minister for Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Silvio Schembri when visiting the Żabbar Primary School, together with the Minister for Educa- tion and Employment Owen Bonnici. Both ministers visited the school hall that is currently hosting around 45 3D printers which the Ministry for Education sourced from different public schools around Malta upon the request of the Ministry of Economy to support this social initiative by David Sciberras. These are being used for the pro- duction of Covid-19 protective visors, which Sciberras owner of Invent 3D is supplying for free to Mater Dei hospi- tal with the help of other volunteers. Schembri said that through this initiative the government is joining forces with the industry and the com- munity, to ensure that those at the frontline are given all the resources required to protect themselves while on the job helping others. The €10,000 grant provided by the Ministry for Economy through Mal- taEnterprise, is aimed at helping this great initiative to provide the much needed scarce equipment through lo- cal efforts and innovation. More resources will be made avail- able where necessary to have these Covid-19 protective visors distribut- ed freely to other public hospitals and governmental residential care units. "This is a national cause whereby all our resources are being mobilised to make sure that our country has what is needed to fight this pandemic. In fact talks are underway with other in- dustry manufacturers on the produc- tion of other essential equipment," he said. Bonnici explained how, instead of the normal printers which transfer ink onto a piece of paper, these 3D printers can actually create a tangible object. "In our schools and educational institutions, we have 45 3D printers which at present situation were not being used. We sought to help in this cause by setting up this 3D printer farm in a school to help add produc- tion capacity. With this collaboration and addition of these printers, we are producing around 600 visors every day for doctors, nurses and all staff in hospitals dealing with Covid-19," he said. Sciberras explained that production capacity has now been tripled from 200 pieces a day to 600 pieces a day which are being delivered to Mater Dei daily. He thanked other industry players such as Playmobil who are also sup- porting this cause by providing plas- tic material for the visor part of this product. He also thanked all volunteers for helping to run the printers all day and all those youth within the community who made their 3D printers available for this cause. Coronavirus Volunteer project 3D-printing protective visors for Mater Dei staff 45 government school's 3D printers being used in volunteer project supported by Malta Enterprise