United Way Sponsored 3D Printing Partners To Make Face Shields

Press release from Jersey City Rapid Maker Response Group:

July 9 2020

Jersey City, N.J. – The Jersey City Rapid Maker Response Group (JCRMRG), through its partnership with Lixil Group Corporation, announced that it has expanded production and distribution of face shields to first responders and medical workers in communities across the United States battling COVID-19. JCRMRG is an all volunteer group of Jersey City residents that formed on April 1st through a Reddit post, with the mission of using 3D printing technology to create face shields to protect healthcare workers. Since forming, the group produced 5,000 3D-printed face shields and simultaneously designed, fundraised, and secured a manufacturing pipeline to mass produce face shields by using a manufacturing process called injection molding. In June, JCRMRG hit a new milestone by producing 70,000 face shields, for a total of 75,000 shields for donation throughout New Jersey and the U.S.

“LIXIL has a history of corporate responsibility initiatives, and we are thrilled that our partnership will bring face shields to a greater number of healthcare workers and first responders,” said Justin Handsman, founder, JCRMRG. “In just two months we went from a call to action in a Reddit group for local makers to help manufacture PPE on 3D printers, to delivering more than 1,000 face shields per week to healthcare workers. Now, with the support of LIXIL, we have the capacity to manufacture 50,000 face shields per week, enabling us to help more first responders and frontline workers as they continue to battle COVID-19.”

The group is a hundred percent volunteer driven, and fiscally sponsored by the United Way of Hudson County. Every dollar that has been donated to date has gone directly into the manufacturing and distribution of face shields. Individual crowdsourced funding and generous donations from Goldman Sachs kicked off the group’s ability to provide face shields. Recently LIXIL Corporation, a water technology company known for its kitchen and bath brands American Standard and GROHE, supported the group with funds to significantly scale production by supporting the initial funding for tooling for injection molding, which allows the group to produce up to 10,000 shields per day.

This marks a significant milestone for the volunteer-run operation, by providing the ability to leverage injection molding to manufacture face shields at 50 times the previous production capacity while keeping costs significantly lower than traditional manufacturers. In partnership, LIXIL will donate 50,000 face shields within the communities it serves across North America. LIXIL employees are also being empowered to assemble the donated face shields with their families, and to donate the shields to frontline workers in their respective communities.

“With our headquarters in such close proximity to an area of the country hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, our team immediately stepped up to help, volunteering time to help make urgently needed PPE for the local medical community and first responders,” said Troy Benavidez, Vice President of Public Affairs, LIXIL Americas. “Having been connected to the volunteers at the Jersey City Rapid Maker Response Group, we realized that we shared a common goal, and we are proud to partner with their team to significantly bolster both our efforts and expand our reach to front-line workers throughout communities in NJ and the US.”

As JCRMRG continues its mission to donate face shields to front line workers across the United States and beyond throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about supporting our ongoing effort at jcrmrg.org, and contact us at donate@jcrmrg.org to inquire about making a tax deductible contribution via the United Way.

About JCRMRG
JCRMRG is an all-volunteer group that started as a discussion in Reddit for 3D printers in Jersey City, New Jersey to organize to make much needed face shields for first responders and medical workers in the immediate area who were faced with significant shortages. In less than eight weeks, the JCRMRG engaged more than 50 volunteers, and have delivered thousands of face shields to local healthcare workers. The group also reached a significant milestone with the ability to leverage injection molding to manufacture face shields, giving them the ability to mass produce as many face shields as their donations support. The group will continue to raise funds to produce face shields throughout the COVID crisis, and hopes to deploy their capabilities in the form of mobile manufacturing hubs to support future humanitarian initiatives. Learn more at jcrmrg.org and follow our work on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About Lixil Corporation
LIXIL makes pioneering water and housing products that solve everyday, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all, and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard, and TOSTEM. Approximately 75,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

This press release was produced by the Jersey City Rapid Maker Response Group. The views expressed here are the author’s own.