Z3D's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

3D Printing helping healthcare facilities

We've all seen how the COVID-19 Pandemic is changing the world as we see it, and 3D printing is helping medical teams respond to the disease by supplying disposable medical equipment. Two big advantages of 3D printing are that it is quicker than older methods of production that require time-consuming and costly retooling to turn out a modified part, and 3D printing also allows complex parts to be manufactured that might be difficult to produce using other methods.

3D Printing Face Shields

So what happens when hospitals around the world demand products in unexpected quantities? Normal manufacturing methods fail to produce enough of them in a short time. However, many 3D Printing companies and hobbyists stepped in to start designing and 3D printing face shields for the front-lines that are in direct contact with COVID-19 patients while treating them. Face shields help prevent infected droplets from landing on the face, which is proven to be the main mode of infection in this pandemic.

Here are some examples of face shields designed by various hobbyists online:

A 3D printer making headbands for face shields that will help protect frontline health care workers.

3D Printing mask ear relievers

The WHO announced that wearing masks can reduce the possibility of infected persons from passing the sickness through coughing or sneezing, since masks will catch bigger droplets that are usually expelled during a cough. Now that law mandates wearing masks in the UAE, everyone has to wear one whether they are in the mall, restaurant, work or public transport. However, long hours of wearing a mask can cause strain on the ears, and many hobbyists around the world rushed to create designs that could benefit everyone in this matter.

The most notable face mask ear gaurd was designed by a kid named Quinn Callander, which went viral and influenced many hobbyists around the world to design something similar.

13-year-old Boy Scout Quinn with his ingenious design

3D Printing ventilator tools

Industrial level 3D printing services also joined forces to create spare parts that normal manufacturers couldn't produce in a short time. Ventilators are required for patients with severe symptoms to aid them in breathing. Due to the pandemic, some parts were required to be modified these ventilators as well as being produced in lower costs and faster time-frames as a response to this emergency.

Here are a few examples of 3D printed ventilator tools:

3D printers fabricate emergency valves for ventilators to keep coronavirus patients breathing

The 'Charlotte' valve allows the conversion of snorkelling masks to attach to hospital ventilators

A Y-shaped splitter which can be printed at home and then used in hospitals to extend the capacity of limited ventilators in US hospitals

Z3D services in response to the pandemic

In the wake of this pandemic, our response is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our customers. To accomplish that, mandatory protocols were put in place, these include:

Disinfection of orders before shipping

We’ve put in place enhanced cleanliness and sanitation protocols before shipping all 3D prints. They are handled with gloves and disinfected right before placing them in the box for shipping.

In-House designed Hygienic Door Opener

If you follow our instagram, you would have seen our Story of trying to design a simple yet effective tool that will help prevent unwanted contact with contaminated surfaces such as buttons and door handles. Here is our instagram story that shows the evolution from testing and prototyping all the way to final production, check it out:

There are many similar tools available from other manufacturers, however, our design has the benefit of storage options. That means you don't need to worry about putting the tool back in your pocket because the contaminated surface is in the storage option chosen (belt clip or flip-type).

You can find this product in our shop! Visit this link to get yours: Hygienic Door Opener

Face Mask strap holder

Like Quinn, we wanted to help the community by reducing the strain on their ears from the face masks, especially after the law in the UAE mandates that everyone has to wear them all the time when out doors. We designed our own remix of Quinn's design, which would make it easier to put on without worrying where each face mask strap should go.

As of now, we over 1500 users are saving their ears from strains and pressure using our mask strap holders. We are proud that our product is having an impact in our community. Moreover, proceedings from the mask strap holders are being donated to the Emirates Red Crescent to support COVID-19 causes that need urgent attention such as emergency Health Packages and Feeding the Needy.

We also distributed hundreds of mask strap holders to hospitals and police stations around the UAE, here are a few happy users that can't relate to ear strains anymore!

You can find these in our shop! Visit this link to get yours: Face Mask Ear Reliever

Thank you for reading and we hope you stay safe in these times! Stay tuned for more content in the near future!