How this Sunderland artist is helping produce vital PPE for frontline workers

The Market Place venue has teamed up with Sunderland mixed media artist Laura Jones to produce critical eye protection for frontline care workers.

Laura is artist in residence at FabLab @ The Word, where designers and entrepreneurs can digitally design an object and bring it to life using high-tech Ultimaker 3D printers, as well as vinyl and laser cutters.

Using The Word’s four 3D printers from her Sunderland home, alongside her own, Laura can produce up to 200 full face visors a day – all of which are designed from the specifications most widely used by the NHS.

Laura, whose day job as a supply teacher is currently on hold, said: “As I cannot work at the moment and was doing art work at home, I wanted to do something more productive with my time.

“In response to the need for more protective wear for healthcare workers, I pulled in resources and contacts and started using the 3D printers to make the visors from home.

“The beauty with these printers is that they can be used to make almost any bespoke object.”

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Local businesses have also donated materials for the visors, including elastic for the fasteners provided by BST Fabrics Ltd, of Rekendyke Industrial Estate in South Shields.

Laura added: “There has been a great sense of community spirit with businesses and organisations providing material and equipment to get this up and running. While people are at home isolating, it almost feels like we’re not actually isolated – we’re all coming together and people have been so supportive and kind. It’s fantastic.”

Andy McDowell, from Hebburn, is another 3D-printing wizard who has been helping to make PPE for key workers, producing visors at home and helping Laura to cope with orders.

Leader of South Tyneside Council, Coun Iain Malcolm said: “We are absolutely committed to playing our part in any way we can during this emergency.

“While The Word is closed to the public, it is still playing a part as an amazing community asset. As well as providing a mobile library service, library staff have been redeployed to directly support vulnerable residents to access essential food and medication. This next step, lending state-of-the-art equipment, demonstrates the innovation that is at the heart of this national attraction.

“Through the FabLab @ The Word and our fantastic artist in residence, we have the technology and the expertise to help support the national effort, to produce vital eye protection for those who need it in our residential and care homes.”

“It’s wonderful to see organisations, communities, individuals and businesses from across a range of trades and spectrums all coming together, pitching in to help in the fight against this pandemic. The borough has certainly risen to the challenge.

“I’d like to thank them all for playing their part in supporting our frontline care providers to stay as safe as possible while supporting the most vulnerable in our communities.”

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