Low energy mass manufactruing of PPE using visible light 3d printing

The Covid19 crisis has shown how the lack of PPE and suitable medical equipment can lead to a national health crisis. This aim of this project is the creation of a both sustainable and versatile solution to the manufacturing shortage experienced in the last 6 months. It will enable the UK to have its own domestic manufacturing resilience, which is entirely made from renewable sources. The recent large usage of PPE is creating an ecological problem as tens of millions of single use plastics are being thrown away at an alarming rate. This project will aim to address both problems of shortage and sustainability.

Photocentric, a UK company, invented the using LCD screens to create 3D printed objects using low-energy visible light to selectively cure photopolymer. This concept has been successfully commercialised with the manufacture of large format industrial 3D printers made in Peterborough. Photocentric has now validated the mass-manufacture of PPE during this crisis by manufacturing nearly 2 million face shields for the NHS. This project will optimise this process to enable it to be transferred to make an unlimited number of different items at a time of need. The process will be automated and can be delivered in a shipping container as a mobile 3D printing factory for the fabrication of PPE and medical devices at the point of need. The 3D printing resins used in this process will be developed and manufactured in the UK, using 100% sustainable resources including 30% recycled materials.

In Summary, this project enables low-cost, rapid and versatile manufacturing of PPE and medical devices using low energy LCD screen 3D printing with 100% sustainable materials form UK derived technology, made in the UK.