Australia's Jabiru Aircraft has joined several other aerospace manufacturers around the world in switching production capacity to much-needed medical supplies.
The Bundaberg-based company is making 500 face shields to offer protection to medical professionals who are combatting the coronavirus pandemic in Australia
"We have been very concerned for the wellbeing of paramedics, GPs and medical personnel who are on the frontline," Jabiru has said. "We hope that the extra layer of protection offered by the Face Shield will keep these essential people free of the virus.
"Our engineer Alex Swan has been very motivated with this project and volunteered much of his own time getting up in the middle of the night to keep the 3D printers going."
To increase capacity for the 3D-printed components, Jabiru has enlisted the help of CQUniversity and Makerspace and is getting offers from local schools.
The project is being done as a not-for-profit venture.
Jabiru joins Piper Aircraft, Embraer, GE Aviation and several other aerospace companies around the world that have committed production capacity to making medical equipment.