Cowfold father and son team provide vital facemasks for health workers

Brian Barney, who operates his company Peritus Consulting in Cowfold, was contacted hy a group known as Print For Victory about the possibility of using his 3D printer to produce the masks.

“I totally agreed,” said Brian. “I then realised I am on lockdown based at our holiday home in France, but that my son fortunately was at our house in Cowfold - the same place as the printer.”

Brian’s son Alex Barney agreed to help and was soon making the masks with Brian arranging delivery of materials.

They have now supplied a local hospital with masks, as well as a pharmacy in Henfield, and an emergency dentist.

Brian has worked in the medical device industry for more than 40 years. Now he and Alex need more materials to continue their vital work.

“We need A4 Acetate 240g sheet, 10mm wide elastic and PLA print material so if anyone has any of these that would really help.”

The cost of materials to make the masks - each takes about an hour to manufacture on the printer - has soared over the past couple of weeks.

“If there are healthcare provides out there who need masks they should go to the printforvictory website and just complete the form.

“We will all do our best to provide the necessary equipment.”

Nigel Boult, owner of The Denture Shop in Horsham, which has received some of the masks, said: “We greatly appreciated Brian and Alex providing these visors for The Denture Shop.

“It meant we can now provide a service for our elderly patients who would otherwise struggle to eat properly without their dentures”

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