The academics
The University of Stellenbosch has put all of their 3-D printers to good use. Manned by medical and health sciences students they have also started producing face shields and spacers for metered dose inhalers.
And at Wits University the Engineering Department has come up with a laser cut solution that is much quicker to manufacture. The school is using clear PVC sheeting that they had purchased for another project. So, they were able to quickly make the face shields at no cost to the hospitals that received them.
The laser cutting process takes just three minutes so the students hope to produce between 200 and 500 a day. They are already making productivity improvements to speed the process up. The university has a project team working on developing more medical products in short supply.
Schools
The Curro private schools have also announced their intention to use their 3-D printers for a similar project. The organisation has applied for an essential service permit so that it can start to produce face shields during the lockdown.
Private industry
Other companies have put their productive facilities to use in the fight against the Corona virus include Distell and, wine maker Spier. They have converted their facilities from making alcohol to producing hand sanitisers.
The arms manufacturer, Denel, is currently looking at their capacity to build ventilators. They may also convert Casspirs to ambulances.
Ford SA has converted its Silverton factory from cars to face shields for frontline medical workers. The company plans to make 57 000 face shields. Management have approached the company’s suppliers to assist in ramping that number up to half a million face shields.
Discovery Health has partnered with Vodacom to offer all South Africans free online consultations with doctors.
These are just a few of the initiatives that South African businesses have voluntarily undertaken to help with the battle against Covid-19. There are many others quietly getting on with the job of helping people and organisations in dire financial straits.