Carndonagh’s Spraoi agus Spórtare planning to scale up their efforts in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic by manufacturing more laser-cut face shields for frontline workers.
The social enterprise has turned its ‘FabLab’ laboratory into a constant 3D printing space for protective face shields for people in community nursing homes, supermarkets, retail and construction businesses across Inishowen and further afield.
Healthcare workers from Nazareth House nursing home in Fahan.
Spraoi agus Spórt plan to scale up the onsite production upwards of 500 per week as government restrictions are eased for local businesses and in the event of a potential second wave of Covid-19.
“With the easing of restrictions there will be a much greater demand for PPE and protective visors, for example from retail shops, opticians and hairdressers – as well as a continuing need within our healthcare sector,” said Co-founder and CEO of Spraoi agus Spórt Helen Nolan.
“We are therefore working towards having a fully resourced FabLab in place that can produce upwards of 500 visors per week. Indeed, through our operation we will be able to instantly respond to the future social needs of our community – as evidenced by the capability of our FabLab to produce high-quality visors within days of the coronavirus outbreak.
“It has also been inspiring to see our FabLab staff and volunteers respond so selflessly to the needs of frontline workers with such inventiveness, creativity and community spirit during this deadly pandemic. Indeed, they can be best described as our very own ‘visor army’ who are taking the fight to Covid-19”.
Simpson’s Supermarket in Carndonagh staff members Caoimhe and Niamh received a consignment of visors recently and said: “These visors are exactly what we need – and we feel much more protected when we are wearing them. They are also so comfortable to wear and it’s great that they are being produced locally in Carndonagh. Thank you Spraoi agus Spórt!”
Caoimhe & Niamh from Simpson’s Supermarket in Carndonagh
The introductory offer for the protective visors manufactured at Spraoi agus Spórt’s FabLab is €5, which includes a visor and four refills suitable for use with the clip-style frame. Spraoi agus Spórt will also donate one visor to a frontline healthcare worker for every visor purchased by a local business.
If you are a local firm, nursing home or other facility who would like to find out more about the face shields / visors or place an order please contact Spraoi agus Spórt on 074 937 3303 or email support@spraoiagussport.ie