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SLM Solutions launches collaborative AM initiative to combat Covid-19

SLM Solutions, a manufacturer of additive manufacturing (AM) machines, has launched the 'Additive Alliance Against Corona', an initiative to combine the forces of the AM industry to work together against the effects of Covid-19.

The alliance will take advantage of AM’s rapid response time to produce critical medical components, as well as the tooling required to produce critical components, to help address the increased demand for such equipment caused by the rapid spread of the Coronavirus.

AM is already used in the production of medical components, with many machines and processes already certified to the current Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and ISO 13485 guidelines.

A number of SLM Solutions' machines in the US are already printing metal injection moulding tools for face shield production, demonstrating AM's ability to contribute to combatting the crisis quickly.

'As a pioneer in metal-based additive manufacturing we want to offer our many years of expertise, our existing resources and our network to actively contribute to overcoming the Covid-19 crisis,' said Sebastian Kässner, chief marketing officer of SLM Solutions. 'Sharing ideas, skills and networks is of great importance at this time of year to fight together against the spread of the virus, to reduce the shortage of important materials and to close possible gaps in the supply chains.'

More from SLM SolutionsBuilding up standards in metal additive manufacturing

Student Design Challenge Against Corona

As part of the new initiative, SLM Solutions has launched a design challenge for students, who are required to submit a product or industrial design idea that could help fight Covid-19. The best or most helpful design will be built on one of the firm's machines, and the winner will receive an award.

The rapid response time of AM is suitable for addressing the critical need for medical components required to combat Covid-19.

Join the initiative

SLM Solutions invites all companies and organisations that can provide support in the form of production, development or logistics capacities, for example, or that already have concrete ideas and need a partner to implement them, to join the Additive Alliance Against Corona.

Further information and the opportunity to contact SLM Solutions can be found here.

'If you need any kind of support, want to share your ideas, skills, expertise and networks, please fill out the contact form,' the company says. 'This is your open invitation to join forces with us in leveraging metal AM in any way we can to beat the Covid-19 virus.' 

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