The rapid product manufacturing GmbH (rpm), MeKo Laserstrahl-Materialbearbeitungen e.K. (MeKo) and the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) jointly produce 3D-printed and laser-cut protective visors and donated the first visors to doctor’s offices and clinics. Niedersachsen's Minister of Economics, Dr. Bernd Althusmann, praised the cooperation between SMEs from Niedersachsen and the research institute.
Protective equipment is still in short supply in doctor’s offices in Niedersachsen. The inquiry from paediatricians in the Hannover area prompted Dr. Jörg Gerken, technical director of rpm, a premium supplier and development partner in the field of 3D-printing, to become active: "Based on the print files from Prusa Research, we can print over 100 plastic holders for protective visors on an SLS machine within a week. All we needed was someone to cut the plastic.“
Dr. Jörg Gerken used his old network: the LZH, from which rpm emerged over 20 years ago, and MeKo, a laser materials processing company for high-precision components and also one of the oldest spin-off companies of the LZH. Both have the necessary expertise to automatically cut the plastic foil with the laser.
During a visit to the LZH, Niedersachsen’s Minister of Economics Dr. Bernd Althusmann said: "When treating Covid-19 patients, doctors and nursing staff must be protected from an infection. Protective materials such as the protective visors manufactured at the Laser Zentrum Hannover help in this and can save lives. With the help of laser technology, protective visors can be produced without long lead times, flexibly - and above all, on site. This makes us more independent of logistics and production chains outside Germany and Europe when it comes to procuring vital safety and protective materials. Above all, clinics and resident doctors can be supplied quickly and reliably thanks to the short production and delivery times.”
300 visors donated, further visors to be charged at cost
Three hundred protective visor sets from the joint production were donated by rpm, MeKo and LZH to doctor‘s offices in Hanover and Helmstedt as well as to the staff of the Helios Clinics. Prof. Dr. med. Detlev Ameis, Head of Gastroenterology at the Helios St. Marienberg Clinic in Helmstedt, is very satisfied with the visors: "We have tested the visors thoroughly in the central emergency room, corona infection ward and endoscopy, and we were very satisfied with the handling". Dr. Ralf Dörre, Medical Director of the Helios St. Marienberg Clinic Helmstedt is pleased with the initiative: "We are very grateful for the protective visors. They are to be used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients or in emergencies. With this helpful donation our doctors and nursing staff are well protected". Further inquiries have been received and the coming batches will be delivered at cost price.
Substitute product for the time of material shortage
The print file for the headgear is publicly accessible on the internet and has been slightly modified by rpm at the request of doctors. rpm prints it from the plastic PA 12 by means of laser sintering. The holder is suitable for a shield made of 0.4 to 0.5 mm thick PET or PET-G film. The visor is fixed with a button rubber band. The protective visors are not approved medical devices or certified protective equipment and can only serve as a supplementary barrier for which no protective effect has been proven. The visors are not intended to be used beyond the duration of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic or the existing shortage of certified protective applications.
There are five figures for this press release.