By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
In a time of need, Mahomet’s Andrew Tietz and Jim Crawford, from Hampton, Va., needed to do their part.
They don’t look at the coronavirus pandemic as something that affects someone else, but as something that affects everyone.
They have devoted much of their work week to helping alleviate the shortage of masks for healthcare workers.
“We were looking for some way to make an impact instead of sitting idly back and waiting for time to pass,” Crawford said.
“We wanted to be proactive. Our business (Threat Tec) is all about responding to threats in our operational environment. In this case, we wanted to make a switch from defense items to personal protective items.”
Their direction came from the stories that have blanketed the news channels during the past week.
“In particular, I really starting to think about this when it was mentioned at one of the press briefings as to how the N95 masks are only made to be used one time, and there is a clear shortage of them,” Tietz said, “causing them to only go to those dealing directly with COVID19 patients and leaving all others working in the healthcare environment completed exposed.
“I was ecstatic to jump on this project and try to do something.”
Their companies (Threat Tec and Treat Werx), based in Hampton with a satellite office in Mahomet, turned their attention to the project, putting aside most other work during the past five days.
While creating and printing masks is not part of their typical workdays, they weren’t starting at ground zero.
“A lot of what I do, whether I’m building simulation software for the U.S. Army or prototyping hardware for our live training support contracts, revolves around creative problem solving and iterative agile production methodologies,” Tietz said.
“These processes actually lend themselves very well to looking at what the community has put out and focusing on enhancing those designs and ultimately producing and putting viable PPE (personal protective equipment) in the hands of our health care professionals as soon as possible.”
Crawford said when he gave Tietz a green light, he didn’t have to wait long for ideas.
“Andrew and his Threat Werx team (the company’s in-house prototyping lab) were quick to generate ideas and solutions,” Crawford said.
Other companies in the United States have undertaken similar projects. Tietz’ search led to several options to follow.
“Initially, I started to conduct research as to what others were doing with 3D printing and ran across several designs for shields and masks,” he said. “I narrowed down to the design from the Billings Institute in Montana due to its low post processing requirements and also that it is being vetted by the health care community on that front.
“I also settled on a shield design from Prusa printers that had gone through at least some validation with the Czech health department.”
Tietz and Crawford were among four employees from their company who have spent time this week on the project. They have received valuable assistance from other sources as well.
The Mahomet-Seymour school district loaned four 3D printers. The request for help didn’t require a lot of contemplation.
“Our thought process was that the printers were sitting idle in our schools and we can contribute and help with this crisis somehow,” M-S superintendent Lindsey Hall said. “It was very easy.”
She called the venture of Crawford and Tietz “awesome,” adding, “We’re all struggling with doing something or helping and it’s so difficult due to social distancing and our stay-at-home order.”
Crawford expects it will be necessary to tweak and refine the process.
“Even if our filters are less than perfect, they are better than nothing,” he said.
Tietz and Crawford are not looking at this as a way to add income to their company’s account.
“These (items) will be donated,” Tietz said. “We are working with some contacts at Carle currently, but as we ramp up, we plan to put out a sign-up sheet for people to request the masks or the shields.”
The need is expected to be great in area communities, according to Carle Hospital physician Dr. Michael Hennesy.
“Right now, we are doing well,” Hennesy said, “but we are trying to be conservative with using our supplies.
“Masks, gowns and gloves are all in short supply nationwide and I think the worry is that if we get hit the way New York is getting hit, there would be no way for supplies to hold up.
“We can UV-sterilize the N95 masks that are needed for Covid protection, but even that would not cover the possible requirements of a worst-case scenario.”
He is thankful that people – especially local residents – are willing to step forward and contribute.
“It is really heartwarming to have people seeing and filling supply needs the best they can,” Hennesy said. “Creating these options for when the standard masks are gone will be so much better than bandanas or the basic cloth masks that are only marginally effective.
“It really is a testament to the ingenuity and the heart the community has that so many people want to help.
“How quickly people are not just acting, but also inventing and developing networks and supply chains is impressive. The way people are using their skill and knowledge in outside-the-box ways is just fantastic.”
Crawford and Tietz are using their ingenuity to produce both the masks and shields.
“We are focused mainly on enhancing the Billings masks and creating a batch of those, but also plan to make the shields,” Tietz said. “As we hear more from the health care community, we will shift to meet demand as best we can.”
It’s difficult, Tietz said, to judge whether their current project is harder or easier than others with which they have been tasked.
“It’s hard to compare as it’s a bit different,” Tietz said. “I would say average just because it has challenges like anything, but we are tackling them head on, which is something we pride ourselves on as a business: Our ability to be agile and adapt to needs at hand through a combination of our internal expertise and our wide network of experts in a wide range of areas that we consult with.”
Crawford said in the days ahead, they will continue to adapt and adjust as needed.
“We just want to meet the need,” Crawford said. “It will probably change over the coming months. We will too.”
As word has gotten out about Threat Tec’s involvement, Crawford has fielded specific requests.
“People have reached out and asked, ‘Can I get one of those?’” he said. “Our intent is to help the folks who support the healthcare system first.”
Hennesy is looking forward to when the products will be available.
“The technology, while untested, seems very sound, since a mask is not that complicated a piece of equipment,” Hennesy said. “I would rather have this type of improvised tech than use a normal surgical mask that is unsuited to viral protection.
“HEPA filters and furnace filters above 1900 grade are thought to be close to what a commercial mask is made of and have the closest properties.”
Though Crawford and Tietz are spearheading the project – and had eight 3D printers in use by the end of Friday – they said there are plenty of ways for others to still assist.
“We could use the public’s help in covering the cost of materials,” Crawford said. “They are welcome to make donations on our Go-Fund Me site. All donations will be applied to COVID19 support.
“We know many Americans want to help. There are many ways they can support us: starting their own effort printing or fabricating PPE; the Go-Fund Me. If they like, they can provide printers, filament, cash or just moral support.”
Hennesy said there are also ways for people without the skills to produce the masks to contribute.
“Latex gloves and N95 masks people may have from hardware stores would be ideal donations,” Hennesy said. “If we have a surge, they will be needed and used.”
Added Tietz: “My hope is that others in the community can join, whether that be donating to supplies, printing parts on their own equipment or providing feedback. We welcome it all.
“Printer pieces can be dropped off and we will assemble and distribute.”
Crawford said his company has not set a time limit on how long employees will remain available.
“This is a nationwide issue,” he said. “We will support as long as we have the need and access to resources.
“Amazon shipping can be problematic as they are picking and choosing what to send. We need supplies to be steady.”
Crawford is pleased to have a role in the undertaking.
“Americans have a grit and determination that is somewhat unique,” he said. “We see problems as opportunities.
“We have the right kinds of spaces to deliver coordinated support and we aren’t very good at just sitting back and letting things happen. Our motto (at Threat Tec) is ‘Reality Matters” and right now, reality is, our healthcare workers need help. We’ve got their backs.”
And to that, Hall offers an amen.
“Out of this crisis some wonderful partnerships and collaborations have emerged as we work together in many different ways,” she said. “We have many resources available, and the connections being made are invaluable.”
Threat Tec is looking for local partners in Illinois, Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland and Kansas to print masks at home. The printed materials would then be assembled at a Threat Tec location and distributed to those on the front lines of COVID-19.
“If anyone in the Champaign community wants to purchase a 3D printer and send it to our Mahomet office, we will set it up and run it for this effort then train the the person on how to use it when they get it back,” Tietz said.
“If anyone is interested in doing this or starting their own single printer to help produce parts, we recommend the Ender 3 Pro for a good, low-cost machine that can handle flexible TPU filament that is readily accessible to purchase trough many online outlets. Specifically Ebay has several of these available for quick free shipping. They cost around $200.”
Once completed, masks will be donated as another option, if needed.
Those looking for ways to help can donate money in a Go Fund Me Account. Any additional funds that are left after the product is purchased for the PPE will go towards continuing to develop solutions for healthcare professionals.
Follow the story on Threat Tec’s Facebook page or at Threat Werx.
To learn more email maskprinting@threattec.com.
