Skip to content Accessibility statement

University of York technicians join effort to make Coronavirus face shields for frontline workers

News

Posted on Friday 3 April 2020

Technicians from the University of York are producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers as part of the national response to Covid-19.
Matthew Von Tersch working in the lab
Matthew Von Tersch working in the lab

Staff from the Departments of Biology and Archaeology have already produced 600 face shields using laser cut recyclable plastic, with possible plans for more in the coming weeks.

Visors

The visors are currently being distributed for free through a York collective.  The collective is calling for more makers to get involved in the project and is raising funds to support the effort.

Technicians BioArCh Laboratory Manager, Matthew Von Tersch and Biology Research Workshop Manager, Mark Bentley are supporting the cooperative.


Mark Bentley wearing the visor

Mark Bentley said: “The collective’s intention is to offer a free safety visor to anyone working on the front line in the York area. This could include shop assistants, teachers, cleaners, care workers, transport staff, delivery drivers or anyone who is required to work with the public during the pandemic.

“We are just doing our bit to support the local community as best we can.”

Innovative engineer

Head of the Department of Biology, Professor James Moir said: “We’ve been doing what we can to be part of the national response to the Covid-19 crisis. Mark from our Biology research workshop is such a creative and innovative engineer. It is great to see these PPE visors they are producing go to frontline workers.”

The 2D laser cut safety visor utilises a design which is being used effectively across Europe and the globe in the fight against Coronavirus. The 2D laser cut is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified.

For more information on the project contact https://www.facebook.com/groups/PPEforFrontlineWorkers/

Research newsletter

Our monthly research newsletter features a curated mix of news, events, and recent discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up

Explore more news

News

29 September 2026

Scores of students and staff welcomed Sir Kevin Sinfield to the University’s athletics track as part of his final endurance event to raise money for motor neurone disease charities.

News

27 September 2026

AI adoption and upskilling could boost the Yorkshire and Humber economy by £38bn by 2030, according to landmark research detailing the region’s future skills needs.

News

24 September 2026

A new teaching resource has been launched to help secondary schools challenge misogyny and the influence of the online ‘manosphere’.

News

23 September 2026

Higher education institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom have established a transatlantic partnership to advance research, skills, and policy in fusion energy.

News

21 September 2026

People across the G20 want their economies transformed, but they no longer trust their governments to achieve this change, a new survey has shown.

Read more news