How 3D printers can help hospitals with supplies during the pandemic
3D printer-manufacturing company, Ultimaker, has launched initiatives to help with the coronavirus outbreak.
To help companies cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ultimaker is making its global network of 3D printing hubs, experts, and designers directly available to hospitals who are in need of tools and applications that are currently expected to be in short supply, and can be quickly produced with 3D printing.
Using Ultimaker.com, hospitals are able to learn the location of any available 3D printing hubs nearby. Additionally, direct contact is offered with Ultimaker and local 3D printing experts and designers to advise and support on creating and obtaining the parts they need most.
To help with the current situation, Ultimaker has launched the following initiatives on Ultimaker.com:
1. Connect and print
Hospitals that face acute shortages of critical parts and that have approved 3D print designs and material specifications which are already available can directly connect with 3D printing experts nearby to send their 3D print requests to be printed. Ultimaker then makes in-house 3D printing capacity available. A continuously updated map shows which 3D printing hubs are available nearby for hospitals.
2. Design, check, and print
If a hospital needs help designing parts and tools that run out and are now in limited supply, Ultimaker will make a team of designers and application engineers available to support with the design and creation of the desired part. This part is then printed by the nearest 3D print hub and sent to the hospital as soon as possible. After the hospital test and approve the part, the part is then made available for further 3D printed production.
Siert Wijnia, co-founder at Ultimaker commented: “Hospital equipment parts might break or hospitals may run out of particular tools, for example.
“We are proud to see the 3D printing community come together to immediately print approved designs of objects that hospitals need right now.
“We hope these initiatives will help all hospitals understand where 3D printers, knowledge, and materials are available, so hospital staff can focus on what matters most: Saving lives.”
Jos Burger, CEO at Ultimaker added: “3D printing can make a difference.
“We therefore invite all available 3D printing hubs equipped with Ultimaker 3D printers to make themselves visible through Ultimaker.com to accelerate the production of approved 3D printed parts, where they’re needed, when they’re needed.
“By unlocking the power of our network to support 3D print initiatives for hospitals worldwide, I am left humbled and honoured to be able to contribute in this challenging situation.”