DE PERE (NBC 26) – Two employees at a local company are using their 3D printers at home to make reusable face masks for their colleagues at work.
Fluid System Components (FSC) said in a news release that the face masks are part of changes the De Pere-based company is making to keep employees safe from coronavirus spread.
FSC engineers, builds, and maintains parts that power machines used in manufacturing products like toilet paper and diapers, among others, which is why the company says it is considered an essential business that must stay open.
The company says it is increasing compensation for some workers, sanitizing surfaces, and requiring employees to keep six feet apart.
It’s also requiring employees to wear face masks. To make this is possible, the company said two FSC employees came up with the idea to use their at-home 3D printers to print reusable masks. Each mask takes six hours to print. FSC said it is compensating for the materials used to print the masks and the time the employees are spending on the project.
"Everyone here is lifting each other up," said company president Chad Trinkner. "We're being proactive, intentional, and we're looking out for our colleagues. Because of it, we're maintaining a low-stress environment during one of the most stressful situations all of us have ever faced. Even though we have to keep our physical distance, this is really bringing us together.”
