Report looks at impact of 3D printing on COVID-19 medical supplies

Non-traditional producers used additive manufacturing — also known as 3D printing — to deliver an estimated 38 million face shield parts, 12 million nasal swabs, 2.5 million ear savers, 241,000 mask parts and 116,000 ventilator parts between Feb. 15 and July 15, 2020, according to a report released Friday by the Food and Drug Administration.  

“The collaboration of these NTPs around the country enabled hospitals to continue testing for COVID-19 and maintain operations; enabled healthcare workers to better protect themselves using AM face shields; provided healthcare personnel with relief from the tension of N95 respirators worn endlessly through ear savers and other quality of life improvement products,” the report concludes. “…Tremendous latent capacity exists within the U.S. to quickly pivot and respond to a national crisis with AM. To harness this capacity, formal efforts must be taken to develop infrastructure enabling and directing national communication, collaboration, and creation efforts. This infrastructure will be critical to the role AM plays in future crises.”