Karthik Raghunath
Solution Expert – 3D Printing
The global COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed an extraordinary response from the 3D printing community worldwide. Amidst the uncertainty of the virus’s persistence, the community has shown remarkable resilience. Altem, in particular, demonstrated its resourcefulness and rose to the occasion.
While engaged in a COVID-19 3D printed ventilator project for another customer, we received an urgent request from a leading research institute in North India. At a time when the nation was heading into lockdown phase 2, this institute aimed to develop its own face shields for healthcare workers, including security personnel on its campus. Without hesitation, our team swiftly assessed the requirements and began production, adhering to stringent guidelines and standards. Within just one week of receiving the order, we 3D printed the first batch of 40 face shields in ABS plastic 3D Printing material and promptly delivered them. Altem’s response was a testament to its agility and commitment, especially when the country faced challenges in sourcing personal protective equipment.
In contrast to surgical masks and homemade alternatives, 3D printer models of face shields offered several advantages. They were easy to disinfect, cost-effective, ergonomically designed, and exemplified rapid prototyping principles. They allowed for design freedom, quick production, thorough validation and testing, iterative improvements, and efficient batch production to meet the healthcare professionals’ needs. Moreover, in line with WHO’s PPE guidelines, these shields effectively covered the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and nose, safeguarding health workers. Unlike disposable surgical masks, which could be used only once, and homemade masks, which were challenging to disinfect fully, these shields out of 3D Printing machine could be easily washed, wiped, disinfected, and used indefinitely.
Altem’s successful utilization of its resources and swift response to the urgent demand for 3D printed face shields produced in their inhouse FDM 3D Printing machines exemplifies our dedication to supporting healthcare workers during these challenging times.
It’s true that in response to increased demand and the need for economies of scale, some manufacturers are creating molds for mass-producing face shields without the using of deploying 3D Printing technologies. However, this approach isn’t suitable for everyone and may not align with sound business decisions.
The current surge in demand is a direct result of the outbreak, and while it’s significant in the short term, it should be considered within a broader context. In India and around the world, deploying 3D Printing technologies are emerging as the preferred solution for addressing these needs. In light of this heightened demand, we are now expanding our services to support various hospitals and medical institutes across the country. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us
This project was published on December, 2022
