Funding UTAR Students’ Face Shields Project for Frontliners

April, 2020

Executive Trustee Lim Beng Choon receiving face shields made by UTAR students

Report by New Straits Times:

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) undergraduates continue to do their part in aiding hospitals and frontliners in their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Their latest effort has seen the university students produce and donate 1,000 face shields to the Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital (HCTM) UKM, for its medical frontliners.

Yasmin Rahimi, senior manager under the Director’s Office of HCTM UKM, received the donation from UTAR for the hospital on April 15.

Another effort sponsored by ECM Libra Foundation, saw the students produce a batch of 1,500 face shields on April 17.

The face shields were received by the Board of Trustee of ECM Libra Foundation Lim Beng Choon. These face shields will be distributed to needy frontliners in Negri Sembilan.

The face shields were manufactured by four UTAR engineering students from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science under an enterprise called Kon10Innovation which was established under the UTAR Unovate Centre to promote student entrepreneurship.

Under the leadership of Lim Kai Wen, Kon10Innovation manufactured the 3D printed medical face shields using eight 3D printers which can now produce 1,000 face shields in a day.

Lim had recently enhanced the hardware and made the production more automated, allowing the 3D printers to produce up to 1,300 face shields in a day.

The face shields created are from good grade materials that can withstand heat and can be reused after sanitisation. The sponge on the face shield can also be easily replaced after use.

“It is an eye-opening experience to produce face shields on this scale and within a short period of time. However, it is amazing what we are able to contribute and it is a humbling experience to be able to do this to help frontliners and save lives,” said Lim.

UTAR, which funded the first batch of the 1,000 face shields for HUKM, said it is proud to have its students engaged in the production of these protective face shields for the hospital healthcare workers in response to the country’s efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the moment the university said the students are increasing their efforts to produce more face shields for the next donation to hospitals, sponsored by Soon Soon Oil Mills Sdn Bhd.

The face shields were received by the Board of Trustee of ECM Libra Foundation Lim Beng Choon. These face shields will be distributed to needy frontliners in Negri Sembilan.

The University is also inviting more sponsors to come forward and join its efforts to produce more face shields for hospitals and frontline workers in this pandemic period.

UTAR students delivering face shields