Expert Q&A: Engineering a response to COVID-19

One of the few positive stories to emerge from the current crisis is the way in which engineering organisations of varying sizes and from a host of different sectors have come together to design, develop and produce key items of medical equipment for the NHS. The Engineer asked three of those companies at the forefront of this historic national effort  - Jaguar Land Rover, Renishaw and Protolabs - about what they’ve achieved, the challenges they have faced, and the lessons that they have learned.

Ben Wilson – Additive Manufacturing and Prototype Design Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

Marc Saunders – Director of Group Strategic Development, Renishaw and Executive Team Member at VentilatorChallengeUK

Lee Ball – General Manager, Protolabs

Ben Wilson: In April, Jaguar Land Rover began producing reusable, NHS-approved 3D-printed protective visors for key workers, utilising our Computer Aided Design (CAD) and 3D printing expertise to help provide vital equipment. This was in response to a national shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for NHS frontline staff in the fight against Covid-19. Many key workers were suffering injury from wearing uncomfortable equipment for long hours or going without vital protective wear. The face visors we created are designed to be reusable, easily dismantled and cleaned before being used again and will help to safeguard the NHS Trusts against future shortages. We are now scaling up production which has enabled us to go from producing around 2,000 visors a week to 14,000 per week.