The global 3D printing company Materialise does not see any doubt about the fact that additive manufacturing is a powerful enabler of speedy innovation and uses 3D printing technologies to fight against Covid-19. The company works on several fronts to respond to the global pandemic, for example on the development of certified medical devices to help patients or protective devices for healthcare workers. Get to know more about Materialise projects here.

Wixom, Michigan, June 3, 2020 – As part of its Additive Alliance Against Corona initiative, SLM Solutions has metal 3D printed plastic injection tooling molds that help produce face shield headbands for the Manufacturing & Advocacy Growth Network (MAGNET), a manufacturing consulting firm in Ohio. SLM Solutions 3D printed the molds in its Wixom, Michigan facility enabling MAGNET to save time and money in additively manufacturing the tooling needed to produce the face shields quickly. Get more info here.

Due to the corona virus, Rolf Lenk Werkzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH has expanded its production and now also manufactures breathing masks and protective visors as part of its daily business. The specialist for 3D printing did not hesitate to donate the protective equipment, which is so important these days, to old people's homes, medical practices and public institutions. "Innovation is our business. As the largest additive contract manufacturer in the North, we provide support where help is most urgently needed. Our conviction is that as entrepreneurs we also always have a social responsibility," says G. Sodeikat, Managing Director at Rolf Lenk. And so the printers at Rolf Lenk are currently no longer standing still due to the high demand.

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"SLM^® machines do it faster!” That was the conclusion of Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing (KAM) in North Carolina when they started printing molds that were typically milled. In the fight against the Covid-19, crises molds are urgently needed to produce face shields and other items. KAM already had the parameters worked out on their SLM Solutions AM machine. This lead to fast build rates and they were able to 3D print an entire metal mold in five hours! Find out more about that story here. 

Prof. Meinhard Schilling and his team have set up a network of local companies in injection molding and tooling to produce and distribute face shields for the use caregivers while patients are being treated. In collaboration with SLM they are currently expanding this network to increase the production capacity by adding further partners as well as establishing the supply chain and production of other urgently needed personal protection equipment (PPE) such as breathing masks. In this effort, multiple players from Germany are being contacted to investigate whether they can contribute a key component to this supply and production network, e.g. materials supply, production or distribution capacity.

The team is seeking support and connection to other local and regional networks. The aim is to work and help beyond regional support and to establish a robust supply and production network that will be active throughout the pandemic situation which is expected to last for many months.

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UK based company CA Models, specializes in rapid prototyping and is a user of Selective Laser Melting technology. They have been working on different medical devices to fight against the further spread of COVID-19. CNC machining ventilator parts and 3D printed visors have been printed for donations to NHS Scotland. Click here and check their LinkedIn channel to get the latest information.