Most companies in the 3D print space have been making plans to adjust operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At least, they should be. But one company seems to be going above and beyond: Prusa Research, based in Czechia. 

Coronavirus Instructions

The company smartly issued a very comprehensive set of instructions to all their staff, which I suspect now numbers near 500. Here’s an image of the material they provided to their employees: 

It’s a bit hard to read, but it explains their company policy during the pandemic. This includes increasing the number of sick days allowed, withdrawing from all travel, procedures to follow if affected, self-quarantine rules, and much more. It’s perhaps the most detailed list of instructions I’ve seen. 

Importantly, it also explains why all these steps must be done using infographics. Once everyone understands the grave dangers involved, they will no doubt follow the rules carefully. 

3D Print Lab’s Sanitizer

But that’s not all. CEO Josef Prusa directed his polymer team, who normally design and manufacture resins for their new line of SLA 3D printers to produce sanitizer. It turns out this is a relatively straightforward method (certainly for polymer chemists) from the World Health Organization (WHO). Link here (PDF).

The Prusa Research polymer team made 1,000 liters of sanitizer in their lab and then it was deployed for use “at work or to take home.” 

Finally, the company, along with another Czech entrepreneur, has unbelievably purchased TWO WEEKS of bike sharing from a European provider for the ENTIRE COUNTRY of Czechia! Biking is a far safer method of movement than public transport, at least as far as virus transmission is concerned. 

No one can know how many lives will have been saved by these moves, but it will be many. Thank you, Prusa Research!

Time To Step Up

In these difficult times, governments have sometimes been slow to react, leaving much room for corporate and personal contributions to the battle. Here, Prusa Research has set an incredible example of what one company can do. 

What about the other companies? How is your 3D print company contributing? If it isn’t, you’d better ask them to, and quickly. 

Via Prusa Research