Jaguar Land Rover has announced it will further help the battle against Covid-19 by manufacturing around 1,300 protective visors a week.
The visors, which were developed using CAD design at JLRs Advanced Product Creation Centre in Gaydon, will be produced initially by 3D printers. There are further plans to mass manufacture around 5,000 visors a week through collaboration with companies such as specialist producer Pro2Pro in Telford.
What makes the visors totally unique is that they will be the only reusable, NHS-approved visor of its kind. This means that they can be easily dismantled and cleaned before being used again; ensuring that there is limited chance of shortages in the future.
Ben Wilson, additive manufacturing and prototype design manager at Jaguar Land Rover, said, “It’s been a real team effort, as we’ve trialled different materials and improved the design over several iterations in consultation with doctors and nurses on the frontline. This has allowed us to create something unique and truly fit-for-purpose.”
Trials have already taken places with healthcare professionals at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust before assembly began at Jaguar Land Rover in Warwickshire at the end of March.
The response from JLR follows a national shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline NHS staff and other key workers.
The announcement comes just days after JLR offered over 160 cars to emergency response organisations around the world, including the NHS and Red Cross. Land Rover has also donated £200,000 as part of its membership with the Disaster Relief Alliance to help the fight against Covid-19.
