AN ALLOA engineer is encouraging people with the right technology to get involved in making much-needed personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare staff.

Griogair Dallas, who runs his engineering design company Gdall Engineering Ltd, owns a 3D printer and decided to put it to good use by making face visors for healthcare staff after he came across the idea online.

He is urging others with 3D printers to do the same and shared some helpful links to get people started.

A batch of 20 visors are now ready for Kilbryde Hospice where it is hoped visitors will be able to use them and get a chance to say their goodbyes to those who are receiving end of life care.

Soon, Griogair hopes to create around 50 for Forth Valley Royal Hospital as well.

Not looking for a thank you or recognition, Griogair simply wants others to put their own 3D printers to good use - the only other materials required are PVC screens, PLA coil ends and elastic ribbons.

It takes just over two hours to create a visor, the majority of that time taken up by the 3D printer doing the work.

The equipment is much-needed with shortages across the board.

The idea came from a colleague who spotted a story about a man creating visors for the NHS and Griogair said: “I thought that's a great idea because I have lots of printing material.

“Then I noticed there was a nurse who posted a cry for help on a Facebook selling page, looking for a whole bunch of PPE (personal protective equipment) for their staff.”

He created a widely-shared post on Facebook to encourage others to do the same and to offer his help, since then he has been inundated with requests from nursing homes, the hospital and more.

“This wasn't my idea, I can't take credit for this, all I am doing is I am helping out, I just want to spread the word: if anybody can help, please get your printer to work”, he added.

For Griogair, seeing nurses and doctors taking care of Covid-19 patients without the protective equipment has been “heartbreaking”.

He added: “The best we can do is help these guys and print.”

Elsewhere in the Forth Valley, other volunteer makers are also looking to plug the gap until official supplies of PPE come through.

Led by Albert Sola, a group of makers are hoping to create as many as 300 visors for Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

They are also looking for people with 3D printers, those who can come up with faster and more efficient ways to produce visors, people with laser cutters, for raw materials and sterilizing equipment.

Visit here to get involved or follow Griogair's links for 3D models and where to get materials: