UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS – Media
OutReach – March 23, 2020 – As countries
worldwide face the challenge of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, Ultimaker is making its global network of 3D
printing hubs, experts, and designers directly available to hospitals in need of tools and applications that are short in supply and can be
quickly produced with 3D printing. Through Ultimaker.com, hospitals can now learn the location of available
3D printing hubs nearby. And 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.
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 already available can directly connect with 3D printing
experts nearby to send their 3D print requests to be printed. Ultimaker makes
in-house 3D printing capacity available as well. A continuously updated map
shows which 3D printing hubs are available nearby.
2. Design, Check, and Print:
If a hospital needs help
designing parts and tools that run out and are now in limited supply, Ultimaker
is making a team of highly motivated designers and application engineers available
to support in designing and creating the desired part. This part is printed by
the nearest 3D print hub and sent to the hospital as soon as possible. After
testing and receiving approval of the hospital, the part is available for further
3D printed production.
“Hospital
equipment parts might break or hospitals may run out of particular tools, for
example,” said Siert Wijnia, Co-founder at Ultimaker. “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.”
“3D printing can make a difference,” added Jos
Burger, CEO at Ultimaker. “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.”
About Ultimaker
Since 2011, Ultimaker has built an open and easy-to-use
solution of 3D printers, software and materials that enable professional
designers and engineers to innovate every day. Today, Ultimaker is
the market leader in desktop 3D printing. From offices in the Netherlands, New
York, Boston, and Singapore — plus production facilities in Europa and the US —
its global team of over 400 employees work together to accelerate the world’s
transition to digital distribution and local manufacturing. Ultimaker.com
