Northwest Aerospace News June | July Issue No. 15 | Page 42
The Food Lifeline warehouse has been reconfigured so staff and volunteers
can maintain social distance from each other while packing emergency kits.
Boeing’s annual Food & Essentials Drive in the Puget Sound drive this year
raised more than 400,000 dollars (Photo courtesy: Food Lifeline)
Among its first actions, Boeing activated its
additive manufacturing network around the country,
including several sites in the Puget Sound region, to
3D-print face shields. The design includes a 3D-printed
frame with an adjustable headband and clear plastic
face shield snapped onto the frame. The company
is working to produce several thousand a week.
Boeing also donated tens of thousands of units of
personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks,
goggles, suits, gloves and safety glasses to support
healthcare professionals in local communities.
Additionally, the company has begun providing airlift
capabilities, including the use of its Dreamlifter, one
of the world’s largest cargo carriers, to help transport
critical and urgently needed supplies to healthcare
professionals. The company is coordinating closely
with government officials and others on how best to
provide support.
An employee holds a face shield with a frame that was 3D-printed at Boeing.
Boeing launched the COVID-19 transport missions with a flight in
April, using a 737-700 aircraft from its corporate fleet to bring PPE
from China to the United States. The company worked in partnership
with FIRST® Robotics founder Dean Kamen to transport 540,000
medical-grade face masks for delivery to healthcare professionals
battling COVID-19 in New Hampshire.
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