Local industrial design firm, Andrew Rogers Industrial Design, teamed up with local sound system manufacturer, Kyrion Audio, to mass produce face shields for Australian health care workers under the company, Ned’s Head.
Recently, the newly formed business was one of five local companies enlisted by the State Government to mass-produce up to 7,000 protective face shields for SA Health.
Both founders, Andrew Rogers and Lee Gray thank the South Australian Business Chamber for their assistance in winning this lucrative Government contract, which has allowed them to employ several additional staff.
“The South Australian Business Chamber helped us make contact with the key decision makers particularly in the Government space,” said Mr Rogers.
Mr Rogers says the Ned’s Head face shields provide an extra layer of protection to essential service providers who are using N95 masks as well. The new business has also been approached by several retailers who are eager to purchase the shields however, the pair are determined to reserve stock for those who require it most…the first responders.
As the demand for protective equipment sky-rocketed with the Coronavirus outbreak in March, Mr Rogers used his creativity and skills in industrial design to create a protective face shield that was both protective and un-imposing to the wearer’s facial expressions.
He quickly got in touch with Lee and the team at Kyrion Audio to produce a prototype and are now producing up to 4,000 shields each day. The new venture comes at a convenient time with the Federal Government banning the export of locally produced medical supplies to mitigate domestic supply shortages.
The production of face shields and other PPE is becoming a catalyst for the State’s economic recovery by securing local jobs and strengthening South Australia’s local manufacturing capabilities.
