Furniture maker Nagami Design is pivoting its focus to the creation of 3D-printed face shields to support medical staff during the time of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Spanish brand normally works with a robotic arm for making 3D-printed furniture pieces and this system has quickly been adapted to respond to the shortage of protective equipment in hospitals.
The protective face shields take the form of visors that are secured around the head and the removable plastic film can be replaced or cleaned to prevent contamination. With the aid of 3D printing technology, these life-saving face shields are rapidly being created—in fact, up to 500 shields can be created in a day. Nagami Design is donating its creations to the Hospital Provincial de Ávila, which is in close proximity to its factory.
Image Credit: Nagami Design
Why This Trend Is Growing
- 3D Printing
- The use of 3D printing technology enables the rapid creation of custom face shields, presenting opportunities for innovative manufacturing processes.
- Medical Equipment
- The shortage of protective equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak highlights the need for disruptive innovation in the medical equipment industry, such as the production of 3D-printed face shields.
- Adaptive Manufacturing
- Nagami Design's adaptation of their robotic arm system for the creation of face shields showcases the potential for adaptive manufacturing processes in various industries.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Furniture Manufacturing
- The pivot from furniture production to 3D-printed face shields demonstrates an opportunity for disruptive innovation within the furniture manufacturing industry.
- Healthcare
- The urgent need for protective equipment in hospitals highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in the healthcare industry, specifically in the production of medical supplies.
- 3D Printing
- The manufacturing capabilities of 3D printing technology present disruptive innovation opportunities across various industries, including the production of medical equipment.
