Aurora Paramedics, Firefighters Receive 3D-Printed Face Shields

AURORA, IL — With personal protective equipment like face masks in short supply amid the coronavirus outbreak, local businesses and organizations are doing what they can to chip away at the shortage and support first responders and healthcare workers. Aurora first responders recently received a donation of 100 3D-printed face shields from TinkRworks.

TinkRworks CEO Anu Mahajan delivered the donation Tuesday to firefighters and paramedics at the Aurora Central Fire Station at 75 N. Broadway. The STEM-education provider based in Hinsdale is using 17 3D printers and three laser cutters across three makerspaces to produce about 50-60 face shields each day, which are being donated to first responders throughout the region.

In addition to its location in Hinsdale, TinkRworks has established makerspaces at S.E. Gross Middle School in Brookfield and Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove. Both are being operated by school officials, as they are the only ones with access to the makerspaces, Mahajan said.

S.E. Gross Principal Ryan Evans and Peter Brown, chief financial officer and assistant headmaster at Avery Coonley, are “working around the clock” to run the schools’ 3D-printing machines and laser cutters, while TinkRworks technician Greg Pascolla operates the machines at the company's Hinsdale facility, Mahajan said, paying tribute to their “monumental efforts” to support local first responders.

In the first 10 days of production, the three have produced more than 300 face shields, which have been donated to first responders in Brookfield and La Grange, as well as Aurora. Mahajan plans to deliver 50 face shields to a fire station in Chicago after a firefighter’s mother reached out asking for TinkRworks’ help.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who recently recovered from the coronavirus, thanked TinkRworks for its donation and emphasized the need for creative, collaborative solutions.

“We are so honored by this donation of PPE to our firefighters and paramedics,” Irvin said in a news release. “Even during this time of crisis, collaboration and innovation are keys to getting us through this together.”

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