Dynamic duo produces 3D printed face shields to fight COVID-19

Realising the immense burden that has been placed on health resources and the limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs), team Dynamic 3D made a decision to put their 3D printers to work with the aim of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dynamic 3D – the pioneers of 3D printing in Guyana – has been in operation since 2018 and was founded by Malcolm Wills, a 24-year-old youth entrepreneur and University of Guyana student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Rehabilitation. The team also consists of the Creative Director, Elton Newton, who is also a final year student at the University of Guyana.
Upon their search for a solution, they stumbled upon 3D printed face shields that are currently being produced in the US for front line healthcare workers and community health workers.
Wills and Newton decided to create their own version of 3D face shields that could be used locally by medical staff as a means of personal protective equipment.
“After brainstorming and researching, we realised that we could play a pivotal role in the fight against this novel virus with the production of our shields. We also saw the number of disposable face shields that had been procured and immediately thought that the production of our reusable antimicrobial shields would be a cost-effective solution. These shields can be sterilised with a simple bleach solution and are ready to be used again” Wills told Guyana Times in a telephone interview.
He further explained, “our production process is also environmentally friendly since [all] of [the] materials used are biodegradable”.

To date, the team has produced over 200 3D face shields that have been distributed mostly to interior communities inclusive of South Pakaraima, Region Nine, (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) as well as Region Four, (Demerara-Mahaica)

In 2018, the duo participated in the Department of Youth Business Summit, where they presented their business pitch that focused on 3D printed prosthetics.
The young business partners were among eleven entrepreneurs who successfully secured funding for their business ventures. The team used the grant to purchase their 3D printers and began production from thereon.
Dynamic 3D focuses on various applications of 3D printing for the production of medical devices, prosthetics, decorative pieces, merchandise, and almost any other item you can think of.

More of Team Dynamic’s work can be seen on their Instagram page “Dynamic 3D”.