Turkish manufacturer creates face shield using expanded polypropylene particle foam

Manufacturer Atermit has begun producing face shields to protect users from Covid-19 using Expanded Polypropylene Particle (EPP) foam - Arpro.

Arpro is a material which is more commonly used in cars for occupant and pedestrian safety.

Atermit, who are based in Turkey, primarily manufacture products for the construction and automotive industries, however, the organisation wanted to help during the Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s engineers therefore designed a face shield to help frontline care workers. The process took just three weeks and involved adapting a design for a protective helmet made from Arpro for the headpiece of the face shield.

By using Arpro, the face shield is lightweight (80g) whilst also offering complimentary head impact protection against light knocks or bumps. The shield has a changeable film at the front and is suitable to wear with a facemask and glasses. The expandable headpiece was deisnged to be comfortable for all day use.

Emin Ozgur, managing partner at Atermit, commented: “We feel proud using our skills and current technology to develop face shields for healthcare professionals.

“The face shield offers much needed protection for key workers from splashes and sprays. We also envisage others using the product, such as cashiers, security and reception personnel, or anyone doing house visits and meeting others frequently during this period.”

JSP is a specialist in thermoplastic foams which delivers Arpro for many applications. Frank Tölle, vice-president sales at JSP, added, “We were excited to hear Atermit were proactively developing a useful solution during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially to protect healthcare professionals. It goes to show how versatile Arpro is; from being used in the automotive industry to packaging and insulation, and now in personal protection equipment.”

Additionally, Atermit will donate one face shield to those who most need it, for every four-face shields sold.