KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In an extraordinary campus-wide effort, the University of Tennessee has designed, engineered and manufactured 50,000 reusable face shields to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors against COVID-19 transmission. This ambitious project brought together expertise from multiple UT colleges and external partners to create the innovative “UT-Shield” – a patented design that combines functionality, durability and sustainability.
The face shield initiative began when Dr. Maged Guerguis, an assistant professor in UT’s College of Architecture, developed the original concept. His design was then engineered for mass production by the Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF) team, part of UT’s Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).
Key Features of the UT-Shield:
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Ergonomic, lightweight injection-molded frame designed for all-day comfort
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Crystal-clear PETG visor with snap-fit attachment
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Reusable design withstands thousands of uses
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Multiple sterilization options including soap and water, alcohol wipes, or standard hospital disinfectants
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Fully recyclable components supporting campus sustainability goals
The manufacturing process demonstrated UT’s technical capabilities:
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Custom 2-cavity injection molding tool created for frame production
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Precision steel-rule dies developed for visor cutting
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Closed-loop recycling system converts PETG scrap into reusable material
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Production capacity of thousands of units per day
Contact:
Vanina Ghossein: vghossei@utk.edu