Infinite Electronics is using its 3D-printing capabilities to manufacture reusable medical face shields for healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus.

The general-use medical face shields can protect medical workers' entire faces as a shortage of this type of protective equipment is happening worldwide amid the outbreak of COVID-19. The company has already completed its first lot of face shields, which has already been shipped, and has received orders for more.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the entire world right now, so we began to think of ways that we could help using technology we already have,” said Penny Cotner, president and CEO of Infinite Electronics. “With these reusable plastic face shields, we are able to help protect those who are most at risk on the frontlines battling this illness. We are donating the face shields to as many healthcare resources as possible.”

The face shields can be used by any healthcare provider working among sick or at-risk patients in any hospital or trauma unit.

Budmen Industries designed the 3D-printed face shields, but Infinite is using its own 3D printers to make the devices.

Additive manufacturing has seen an uptick in use during the coronavirus pandemic as healthcare organizations, governments and companies race to manufacture products to help prevent critical healthcare workers from getting infected while treating those with the virus. A company has developed a 3D-printed, hands-free device for opening doors, while John Hopkins University is developing a 3D-printed splitter that can make it possible for a single ventilator to simultaneously treat multiple patients. Meanwhile, Volkswaen has created a task force to use its 125 industrial 3D printers to build ventilators.