The Castle Fun Center joins the fight against the coronavirus
Chester. The center is helping keep front-line healthcare workers safe by using its three-dimensional printer to manufacture components for face shields.
| 13 Apr 2020 | 08:21
The 3D printer creates the bracket for the face shields. (
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The finished products: The curled ends fit around the forehead and head. The front of the bracket is where the face shield, typically plastic, attaches.
The Castle Fun Center, a popular family entertainment center in Chester, is using its three-dimensional printer to manufacture components for face shields, a type of personal protection equipment in short supply.
The Castle typically uses its 3D printer for creating and repairing amusement equipment. Now, it is printing brackets that rest around the head and hold the face-covering plastic shield in place.
The brackets are donated to The Northeast Face Shield Project, a nonprofit collection of volunteers who 3D-print face-shield parts, obtain supplies and distribute the shields to healthcare facilities throughout the Northeast.
“Lives are at stake,” said The Castle’s director of IT and technology, Mike Baier. “The Castle Fun Center saw an urgent opportunity to safeguard the heroes who are selflessly working around the clock to protect our community. Our 3D printer usually helps brings joy to others at our entertainment center. Now, we’re proud to support the community in a new, rewarding way.”
The Castle is donating its services and raw materials, and the bracket design it uses complies with hospitals’ and healthcare organizations’ standards for effectiveness and safety. So far, more than 100 have been created; it will produce 500 to 1,000 or more, depending on the ongoing need, Baier said.
Face shields are an example of personal protection equipment that is in high demand, but hard to find, during the coronavirus crisis. These supplies – which also include N-95 surgical masks, gloves, gowns, decontamination supplies and more – are critical safety tools for emergency service technicians, hospital personnel, paramedics and others.
The brackets and face shields are reusable after sterilization, helping ensure long-term protection and reducing the need to consistently obtain new equipment.
Last week, 100 of The Castle’s brackets were part of 500 face shields donated to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern.
“We salute all first responders and medical teams for their expertise, dedication and compassion,” Baier said.
To learn more about The North East Face Shield Project, or to donate or request supplies, visit NEFaceShield.org.
View a video of the 3D printer creating a face-shield bracket at Facebook.com/TheCastleFunCenter.