Auckland Council’s 3D printers are being put to good use during the COVID-19 lockdown creating face shield frames for frontline medical staff.

Working from home, some of Auckland Council’s Information & Communications Technology staff members joined the ShieldsUpNZ initiative last week – along with other 3D printer owners from around New Zealand.

The initiative, set up by 3D printer manufacturer Mindkits, aims to make as many face shields as possible to be distributed to local medical agencies that need them for their frontline people that are in contact with members of the public.

Auckland Council Technical Enterprise Architect Aldo Coetzee says the first batch of plastic frames is ready for distribution.

“They will be couriered to a central hub for the North Island where they will be sterilised and assembled,” he says.​

Aldo explains the frames are created in the printer using filament (1.75 mm plastic string) which is melted and then built up layer by layer.

He says the council already had the materials and filament in stock.

“So, all we needed to do was set up the printers at home and start printing. It made sense to help out and it’s great to be able to do our bit to help where we can.”

For more information on the ShieldsUpNZ initiative visit shieldsup.org.nz