Coronavirus: Manchester Metropolitan’s PrintCity joins the fight against COVID-19

Production of protective equipment and an innovative new device is about to begin at the 3D printing hub

Thousands of parts for personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospital workers are to be produced at Manchester Metropolitan University’s 3D printing hub, PrintCity, over the coming weeks.

Experts have also designed a new device which aims to help prevent the spread of germs and viruses through reduced contact with door handles. The final product designs will be made available online for anyone to use. This is as the world continues its battle against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Professor Craig Banks, Founder and Academic Lead of PrintCity, said: “We wanted to help support the fight against COVID-19 in the most effective way possible. 

“Over the last couple of weeks we have witnessed some fantastic, rapid prototyping from industry, and we knew we too could make our own contributions.

“We have managed to do that in two ways.

"Firstly, by supporting the production of PPE for frontline NHS staff who are experiencing shortages.

"We will be producing parts for face shields that will be sent to our regional Trust, disinfected and assembled by hospital staff. This approved process will allow NHS staff to be protected as they fight this deadily virus.  

"Secondly by designing a simple product which aims to help prevent the spread of the virus through touching handles on doors and cupboards.”

Production

Next week, PrintCity will reopen its doors to begin printing headbands for facial visors, which will be sent Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust to help equip and protect frontline workers.

The team are aiming to print around 1,000 headbands per week while the crisis continues.

In the meantime, development and testing is ongoing on a simple and ingenious device, which will allow a door handle to be opened without having to touch it using the hand itself.  

Mark Chester, Innovation Development Manager at Business Growth Hub & PrintCity, said: “We have come up with a hands-free design, which will help reduce the spread of viruses and germs.

“It is said that COVID-19 can live on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours, meaning that many handles could already have the virus on them when they are used.

“A hands-free device allows a user to use their arm to open a door or drawer instead of their hand. 

“Although the virus will still be transferred to the arm, there is less potential that it will come in contact with the users nose or mouth. However, individuals should still continue to wash their hands as regularly as possible.”

The handles can be applied anywhere, from hospitals to offices, supermarkets, care homes and schools. They have already been tested in a nursery setting.

Mark added: “Using the already available 3D designs from the wider industry as a starting point, we set out to create a simple product, which can be attached to any handle whether it's on a drawer or door.

“Unlike other prototypes, instead of adopting nuts and bolts, our design uses cable ties to secure the device to the handle, making it easier to attach to a wide range of handle profiles.”

Freely available

Once the final stages of testing are complete, the designs for the device will be freely available online, and anybody with a 3D printer is encouraged to help print the products and support with the cause.

Mark said: “The design is suitable for most 3D printing processes and will fit on a wide range of build plates. 

“We hope that individuals with 3D printers who are unable to produce PPE safely, will be able to join the effort to beat COVID-19 using this clinically approved design and together we can make an impact.”

The efforts of PrintCity are part of a range of activities taking place across the University to support frontline workers.

Professor Andy Gibson, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “I am extremely proud of the work being done across both the Faculty and University as a whole in support of the fight against COVID-19.

“We have such a wealth of knowledge and expertise and it is fantastic to see us using that expertise to make a difference towards this international effort, with these examples from PrintCity accounting for just some of our overall contribution to the cause.

“PrintCity is one of the pillars of excellence within our Faculty, encompassing our proficiency in additive manufacturing, industry 4.0 and generative design.

“The timely and innovative response from the team here at PrintCity, to this global pandemic, has been nothing less than exceptional.

“With production now ready to commence on thousands of vital headbands for protective visors, and an ingeniously designed device to prevent the spread of germs on door handles, I am sure the efforts of the team will make a tremendous difference.”