HARZ Labs, a Russian company producing high-quality photopolymers for 3D printing, provided volunteers with free raw materials for printing protective devices for medics during the coronavirus pandemic.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic in Russia, 3D printer owners and volunteers are joining a large community to help Russian doctors and medical professionals across the country with additional protective gear. Using 3D printers, they print components for assembling homemade personal protective equipment. For example, protective shields, boxes, sealed masks, filters, mask clips, ventilator valves and other necessary items.

HARZ Labs' management has also decided to contribute to the fight against the coronavirus and has offered free printing materials to enthusiasts and volunteers who print protective equipment and components on 3D printers.

"Across the world, initiatives are now springing up to help fight the epidemic by private businesses. 3D printing is no exception - ventilator valves, masks, filters and other necessities are printed on 3D printers. We have also decided to support those who help the medical profession. To date, we have supplied the makers with several dozen kilograms of polymer. Before the quarantine, one kilogram of polymer cost 7 thousand rubles. Although the market is now experiencing a decline and our sales have dropped, we have decided to provide the meikers with the polymer free of charge," the company said.

To get the free photopolymer HARZ Labs volunteers, movements and organizations that are engaged in 3D printing of protective equipment and medical supplies for hospitals for non-commercial purposes, can email the company at info@harzlabs.ru. To date, the company has donated the polymer to such medical organizations as the Central City Hospital and the Central Clinical Medical Sanitary Unit named after V.A. Egorov honored doctor of Russia in Ulyanovsk, the Volga Research Medical University in Nizhny Novgorod, the St. Petersburg City Hospital of St. Elizabeth the Martyr, and the movement "Volunteers of Crimea against COVID-19".

HARZ Labs continued its work even during the period of restrictive measures. The epidemiological situation in the country prompted the company's specialists to analyze new applications of photopolymers in medicine. For example, the photopolymer, Dental Flex Hard, manufactured by HARZ Labs, is suitable for printing swabs for sampling and swabbing in testing for the presence of the virus. Tampons printed from this material are currently being tested at clinics around the world for bioinertness against various viruses.

About the Company

Russian company HARZ Labs is a leader in the production of high quality photopolymers for 3D-printing in the Russian market. Company offers wide range of products for DLP/LCD, SLA, CJP and other 3D printing technologies.

Photopolymers from HARZ Labs are widely used in medicine, especially in dentistry. For example, based on polymers are made temporary structures (crowns, bridges), surgical templates, mouth guards, eliners, dental gum models, demonstration models of teeth, master models, models used for direct casting and other materials required in dentistry. The company also produces polyamides for SLS printing technology and plaster composites for CJP printing technology.

In addition to medicine, photopolymers from HARZ Labs are used for all kinds of industrial 3D printers. Availability of own scientific base allows the company to customize materials for 3D printers of its customers.

HARZ Labs photopolymers have high quality that is achieved by innovative equipment in-house production. Raw materials produced by HARZ Labs are odorless, which is an advantage because it allows customers to work indoors without ventilation.

The company's production process consists of five stages. First is the incoming inspection of raw materials in our own laboratory, obtaining premixes by pre-dispersion of pigments and fillers using high-tech equipment. Then the photopolymer composition is brought to the required viscosity. At the end, quality control of the resulting products is carried out: 3D printing of test samples and examination of physical and mechanical characteristics. Each stage is strictly controlled by staff of the enterprise.

Having its own laboratory allows HARZ Labs to conduct ongoing research of the manufactured materials to meet the needs of customers and make 3D-printing even better, easier and more accessible to all.

Today, the company's partners are the largest institutes, dental companies and laboratories around the world. Among the leading partners of HARZ Labs are Star Smile, Rikom Group, Artikon Group and TS Dental Group.