MF uses 3D printing to supply full face shields to local medical staff

Massey Ferguson, a worldwide brand of AGCO (NYSE:AGCO), is proud to announce that while its manufacturing activities are on hold from March 18th because of the coronavirus situation, in its Beauvais (France) facility, it will use its 3D printing capacity to donate full face shields to its local community medical staff heroes working hard to save lives from the Coronavirus pandemic.

AGCO and Massey Ferguson did respond to the call of the specially created French non-profit organization “Les Visières de l’Espoir” – “Hope’s Face Shields” initiated by 3DNatives.com, a French specialised 3D printing media. The project was initiated after 3D Natives learned from the Caen’s Hospital (Normandy – France) that due to increased pressure on resources, the hospital was really short on protective equipment. “Les Visières de l’Espoir” – “Hope’s Face Shields” leverages the powerful action of a network of France-based companies putting together their skills and additive manufacturing capacities to ease the work of our Heroes with the aim to respond to the immediate demand of 13,000 face shields coming from 94 hospitals and medical centres across France.

“The Massey Ferguson team is humbled by the opportunity to help. As part of our new Vertical Integration’s activities planned for our factory extension named Beauvais 4, we were close to start our Additive Manufacturing activities to produce small series parts for our tractor’s production as well as our new tractor’s personalisation workshop. After successful weeks of tests, this activity was planned to start April, 1st 2020. However, with our Manufacturing activities being temporarily on hold because of the coronavirus breakout, we see Additive Manufacturing as a modest contribution, yet full of meaning, from us to help stop the pandemic,” said Boussad Bouaouli, Vice-President Manufacturing AGCO Beauvais

“The strengths of additive manufacturing and 3D printing – print anything, adapt on the fly – make it an opportunity to help address shortages of parts related to face shields among other things. The face shield has a 3D printed frame and a transparent plastic shield to provide protection for workers. The design and production process has been fully approved by the Caen’s Hospital medical staff based in Normandy, France.” “As part of “Les Visières de l’Espoir” – “Hope’s Face Shields” initiative, HP, our 3D printer partner, is providing the printing compound, while Decathlon (sports good producer and retailer) provides the transparent plastic shield and supports the overall logistics. The Massey Ferguson Additive Manufacturing team ensures the printing of the frame, the assembly of the full face shield and the delivery to the medical staff, as other members of the initiative’s network are doing such as L’Oréal, BASF, Lactalis, Aereco, Proteor, Sculpteo and Solvay amongst others,” says Mr Bouaouli.

“From April 6th, and for the next three weeks, we are aiming to produce some shields that we are humbled to donate to support heroes from the medical staff working hard to save lives in our community. We are proud of our colleagues who volunteered to run the 3D printers,” concludes Thierry Lhotte, Vice-President & Managing Director Massey Ferguson Europe & Middle-East.

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