Maidstone-based Speedscreen has shuttered its usual large-format print facility and furloughed its workforce, and has turned to PPE visor production instead.
Managing director Tim Hill set up a Just Giving page to raise £1,200 to cover material costs, as the masks are being donated to local hospitals, hospices and care homes free of charge. The initial target was quickly reached, with more than £4,000 now raised enabling additional production.
Hill told Printweek: “I have six of my ten staff working at the factory and two from home on assembly, all as volunteers.”
His step-son, Isaac Hempstead Wright, who plays Bran Stark in Game of Thrones has also turned his hand to visor production, and has helped to raise the profile of the firm’s efforts.
“He has had 119,000 likes on Instagram since Saturday!” Hill added.
“I also want to thank Pyramid Displays for their help. It’s fantastic how the industry is rallying round.”
Elsewhere, Thame-based greetings card specialist Windles said it had been “busy converting our machines and designing these ultra-lightweight and comfortable medical visors”, with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust ordering a large batch already.
Industry giant Ricoh has launched a new ‘Printed Memories’ postcard creation tool, which allows people to “Send a reassuring message of support on a printed postcard” anywhere in Europe for £1, with the proceeds going to Alzheimer's Research UK.
The initiative is part of Ricoh’s ‘imagine.change.Challenge’ programme and has a dedicated website at printed-memories.com.
“Ricoh’s digital Printed Memories postcard tool is enabling people with dementia to stay connected to their family and friends. And we are working together to produce a number of other awareness campaigns, leveraging Ricoh’s technologies and expertise,” the firm said.
Walstead Group pre-media subsidiary Rhapsody has set up a website – www.stayathomeposters.com – to encourage children to get creative during the lockdown period.
“Rhapsody is supporting the NHS and UK government’s initiative to #stayhome to reduce the spread of the Covid19 virus and ease the pressure on our health service,” the firm said.
“Our end goal is to get together enough amazing posters in our gallery to digitally share with the NHS to spread a little positivity during these unprecedented times.”
Meanwhile, the government has also set up a new hub containing guidance about the use of PPE materials in health and social care settings, as well as for other workers and sectors.
The hub is linked to the ‘Make’ strategy of encouraging UK manufacturers to produce PPE.
The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), said it welcomed support “from manufacturers who wish to offer their production facilities where they can meet the required specifications for use by the NHS and care sector”.
