Ricoh Makes Face Shields for Japanese Health Workers

According to The Japan Times, office equipment manufacturer Ricoh Co (Ricoh) has started making face shields for medical personnel dealing with the coronavirus in Japan.

Ricoh plans to manufacture 1,000 shields this month and 7,000 in May, supplying them free of charge to Japan’s medical institutions that have been designated to treat infectious diseases.

The company is making the face shields at its plant in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, that usually manufactures printers and other products.

Ricoh said it is using 3D printing technology and special moulds to speed up the manufacturing process significantly.

The company is also making face shields at a plant in Britain for that nation’s National Health Service.

Olympic torch designer shares DIY face shield for health care workers

In a related story, Tokujin Yoshioka, the Japanese designer who created the torch designs for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic relays, has shared a method for making do-it-yourself face shields aimed at helping health care workers on the frontlines of battling COVID-19.

“I’d like to share my quick and simple face shield idea for emergency situations where there is a shortage of medical supplies,” wrote Yoshioka on his website Tuesday. “I hope this can be of some help to health care workers.”

In a video posted on the site and social media, Yoshioka demonstrates how to construct his face shields in three steps, which include putting a template on top of a clear plastic sheet, cutting around the template and making holes where the shield can be attached to glasses and worn.

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