The Royal Mint is set to manufacture nearly two million medical visors to help protect NHS staff from the coronavirus across England and Wales.
The organisation, which is more commonly known for making coins and investment products, transformed its visitor attraction into an emergency production like in late March - making more than 100,000 medical visors per week.
Engineers developed a successful prototype in 48 hours, and 150,000 have already been made for hospitals.
Initially, engineers were producing 4,000 units a day , but now production has moved to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the Royal Mint’s site in Llantrisant, South Wales.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who is also Master of the Mint, said: “It’s vital our brave NHS workers have the protective equipment they need to safely care for those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
“I applaud the Royal Mint for refocusing their efforts and working around the clock to play their part during this national emergency.”
Companies including Brammer, TJ Morgan and Technical Foam Services have worked with the Royal Mint to source the components needed.
In addition to producing medical visors, the Royal Mint has worked closely with the NHS to provide other support, including helping to design and print Covid-19 awareness cards for staff at the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
Anne Jessopp, chief executive of the Royal Mint, added: “We want to play our part in the fight against coronavirus by providing NHS staff with the protective equipment they need to keep the nation and themselves safe.
“When people think of the Royal Mint, they think about the coins in their pockets, but we’ve been making useful products for the nation for 1,100 years and have a team of skilled designers, engineers and production staff.
“Together they turned a rudimentary visor design into a working model in just 48 hours, and within a week we were manufacturing thousands per day.”
The news comes as the Government continues to face criticism for a lack of the critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for NHS workers.
The Government has insisted "every possible option" is being pursued to secure additional kit but said with unprecedented worldwide demand, the situation was "very challenging".
Major fashion brands including Burberry and Barbour have also turned over their production lines to produce the vital safety equipment, while a a London hospital trust has opened a “3D printing farm” to produce 1,500 face visors a day for frontline staff.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS trust has teamed up with 3D printing firms and enthusiasts and has more than 200 machines working 24 hours a day to create the protective shields.
They are being made at the trust’s supply hub in Dartford and are being shared with other NHS hospitals.
