BP Houston worker tackling Covid-19 in 3D

摘要

A Houston BP employee is one of many in the US oil capital that is using 3D printing technology to print personal protective equipment, such as masks and face shields, in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Ricky Burns, business transformation team lead for the UK supermajor in the US Gulf and Canada, said in a video that he began tinkering with 3D printing technology a few years ago and wanted to pitch in to help out in the crisis. "Everyone in the community is going to get affected by Covid-19 some way or another," Burns said in the video shot from his garage as a 3D printer went to work in the background. "It's affecting some people from a health standpoint, but everybody from a mental health standpoint." Burns is able to print about 10 to 20 of the face shields per day, he said, and has been working with other oil and gas companies and other equipment makers across Houston. Overall, the effort has led to the donation of some 21,000 units. The equipment also includes the "Houston Strong" slogan - a slogan borne out following the devastating Hurricane Harvey that hit the city and wider region in 2017 -to help continue supporting first responders and medical staff.