DENSO Spirit Spotlight: Mike Mansfield

When local company, InkSmith, put out a call to action to the public to help 3D print the parts required to build personal protective equipment (PPE), DMCN section leader Mike Mansfield jumped into action. InkSmith had the existing tools and infrastructure to create face shields for front-line health care workers in Canadian hospitals but was struggling to produce the printed parts the face shields required.

“I saw a local news article with InkSmith’s call to action and started printing the parts on my 3D printer from home that weekend,” said Mike. “That Monday I asked our president if I could bring our facility’s 3D printer home.”

DMCN president Rich vanOorschot of course said yes. With his home printer, Mike was producing 12-15 sets of parts every two days. With both printers, Mike more than tripled his efforts. He drops off the parts at a touchless drop-off every few days. Once InkSmith gets the components, they assemble the face shields and donate them to Canadian hospitals.

“I think it’s important to do what you can when you can. Everyone has a skill or hobby or interest that can translate into supporting a need in their community. I enjoy 3D printing, but you don’t need a technical skill to help,” said Mike. “There are lots of things people can be doing whether that’s sewing masks, helping elderly neighbors, or limiting interactions. Just do what you can, when you can, and that’s enough.”

“I’m so proud to have Mike as a member of our DENSO team. He has a particular skill, he took initiative and now he’s doing something that can save lives,” said Rich. “The DENSO Spirit is shared by all our associates around the world and Mike is a perfect example of the type of driven people we have at DENSO who are making society better as a whole.”

A huge thank you to Mike for doing his part in the fight against COVID-19. Mike said as long as there is a need, he will keep printing and donating the face shield parts.