MINSK, 20 April (BelTA) – Engineering and technical education centers of the Hi-Tech Park have started making means of individual protection for Belarusian medics, the Hi-Tech Park press service told BelTA.
Over the course of two weeks all the education centers of the Hi-Tech Park have been able to make nearly 1,200 face shields, 130 defoggers, and 95 mask holders. The output figures grow daily, the press service said.
Anyone can join the initiative. Those with access to 3D printers or laser cutters can help.
Specialists of EnCata Company (Engineering Catalyst), a resident company of the Hi-Tech Park, have come up with their own design for face shields, which can be printed on various 3D printers including compact ones designed for home use. At present these face shields, defoggers for goggles, and occipital holders for face masks are made in Orsha, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Dokshitsy, Glubokoye, the agrotown of Valishche, and other populated localities. Synesis Company (another resident of the Hi-Tech Park) has provided material aid to the engineering and technical education centers in Novopolotsk and Valishche.
Anna Tveritneva, head of the Novopolotsk-based IT Academy NOTA, said: “Our students design models at home and send them to us while we and other pedagogues print the models on a 3D printer. We manage to make ten face shields per day and send them to hospitals right away. I take the printer to my home for the weekend in order to continue printing.”
The Orsha-based IT academy KompAS has adjusted the design of a protective shield for medical purposes. The model is made using a laser cutter. It takes only 12 minutes to make a shield. At present the IT academy can assemble 120 protective shields per day.
The IT academy's instructor Vladimir Kupriyantsev said: “Roughly speaking, we have a little factory here. Some students prepare the material and use a machine tool to cut it, other ones polish the plastic, while some other ones assemble ready-made products. Medics are very grateful. They've been asking for more.”
According to Igor Kiktenko, Head Physician of the Pinsk Central Polyclinic, this help is very valuable. “Last week we received the first batch – 34 shields. Two more batches like that – and our needs will be covered,” he said.
The Hi-Tech Park press service said that in view of the spread of the new coronavirus companies residing in the Hi-Tech Park provide financial support to the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry, help with hospital equipment, and develop the necessary software.
