When one teaches children to innovate, what could be better than setting an example oneself. Like all other businesses being shut by the ongoing Covid19 cases in Maxwell Saby Rodrigues’ company was also badly hit. All work of setting up labs in school, by his company, Mattzus Leraning Technologies was brought to a halt and planned summer camps and learning activities had to be cancelled. When it was a question in everyone’s mind what else to do and how to get groceries for survival, Rodrigues, the founder of had other plans which led to design and manufacture foam based PPE face shields.
He mostly deals with setting up of science laboratories and STEAM based hi-tech labs in schools and colleges. He also runs a STEAM Innovative Learning Centre in Porvorim teaching all students to innovate using robotics, 3D printing, IoT, astronomy and modern hi-tech gadgets.
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“After designing and making one 3D printed N95 mask I understood that it’s no better than an ordinary cloth based N95 mask and not practical. Then I started 3D printing Head Rest for Face Shields but found that it takes minimum 1-2 hours to print a proper headrest and that too its breakable and very uncomfortable on the forehead, I dropped the idea of 3D printing. I knew we needed something very simple, easy and comfortable to use at a same time easy and fast to assemble” says Maxwell.
The product is made out of simple foam-based face shields which are most durable, soft, comfortable and easy to use for all frontline service providers such as doctors, nurses, police and health workers fighting against the Coronavirus. Each face shield takes 10 minutes to assemble and mass and fast production of these shields was possible.
“We are getting inquiries for our face shields from doctors, distributers, organisations such as the Rotary from Goa and even from Gujarat and Hyderabad. Orders of 500 face shields are already placed with us. We have a team of five people working under the guidance of Ahmed Hussain and myself. Hussain is in-charge of assembling all the face shields. Our major challenge will be to increase our capacity in such times when raw material availability is scarce.”
About 100 face shields and 100 face mask were handed over to Dr Jose D’sa, Director, Directorate of Health services, Goa on the April 13 which were fully sponsored by Rotary Club of Mapusa City. On April 15 they will deliver 100 such shields to IT and Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate too.
