Boeing employees in Huntsville are making 3D-printed face shields for COVID-19 response

HUNTSVILLE – As medical supply shortages continue, Boeing employees in Huntsville are stepping up to 3D-print face shields to make sure our nation’s frontline medical professionals have what they need to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The company delivered its first round of 2,300 reusable face shields on Friday.

Boeing worked with health care providers across the country to understand what equipment was most urgently needed and how that aligned with Boeing’s vast manufacturing capabilities. Face shields and other PPE have been in such short supply that some doctors and nurses have turned to swimming goggles and other homemade options.

At Huntsville, Boeing teammates are using state of the art additive manufacturing machines to 3D-print a frame with an adjustable headband that allows a clear plastic face shield to be snapped onto the frame. The reusable face shields have been accepted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will be delivered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for distribution.

“Boeing is proud to stand alongside many other great American companies in the fight against COVID-19, and we are dedicated to supporting our local communities, especially our frontline healthcare professionals, during this unprecedented time,” said Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun. “History has proven that Boeing is a company that rises to the toughest challenges with people who are second to none. Today, we continue that tradition, and we stand ready to assist the federal government’s response to this global pandemic.”

Boeing is set to produce thousands more face shields per week, gradually increasing production output to meet the growing need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the United States. Distribution of additional face shields will be coordinated with HHS and FEMA based on immediate needs.

Boeing employees are using state of the art additive manufacturing machines to 3D print face shields. The face shields will be donated to hospitals with shortages across the country, in coordination with FEMA. Photo courtesy of Boeing