CLEVELAND — In the global fight against COVID-19, healthcare workers need immediate access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Power management company Eaton is leveraging expertise in additive manufacturing and its partnership with Cleveland’s Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) to rapidly develop face shields for hospitals. The first batch of face shields made at Eaton’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Southfield, Michigan, were donated to hospitals in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan.

“What matters most is the ability for our healthcare system to respond to the crisis at hand, and Eaton can help,” said Michael Regelski, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Electrical Sector at Eaton. “From delivering critical supplies to ensuring always-on power for essential electrical systems, we’re supporting our communities and the healthcare industry during this crisis and in everyday circumstances.”

“We greatly appreciate Eaton’s donation of face shields, which will protect caregivers on the front lines and help reduce the spread of the coronavirus,” said MetroHealth president and CEO Akram Boutros, MD, FACHE. “It is inspiring to see the way our community has come together, including great partners like Eaton.”

By applying additive manufacturing capabilities, Eaton was able to quickly develop a face shield design that is comfortable for extended wear, maximizes facial protection, and can be sanitized and reused for a period of time, providing an advantage over current models. Eaton worked closely with MAGNET, MetroHealth System, university hospitals, and other healthcare providers to evaluate initial samples and refine the design.  Eaton is rapidly scaling up production of face shields to more traditional manufacturing methods (e.g., injection molding) to deliver the volume of face shields needed to meet the demand of healthcare systems across the country.

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