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Davit Davitian, Co-founder, PPE Connect PGH, assembling face shields. | Credit: PPE Connect PGH

RE2 Robotics, a Carnegie Mellon spinoff and developer of robotic mobile manipulator arms, is making face shields for healthcare workers on the front line against the COVID-19 fight. RE2 is working with PPE Connect PGH and its coalition of local universities and manufacturers.

RE2 is using its five 3D printers around the clock to fabricate parts for face shields that are being collected and distributed by PPE Connect PGH. The face shields, along with all of the personal protective equipment (PPE) donations, are available at no cost to smaller healthcare entities such as community clinics, nursing homes, and independent facilities in the Pittsburgh region.

According to PPE Connect PGH, the collaboration had, at press time, distributed almost 500 N95 respirators, 195 face shields, 600 nitrile gloves and more in the first two weeks. For more information about donating PPE, please visit the PPE Connect PGH website. Financial donations can be made on the ACMS website.

Providers can request traditional PPE and face shields on the PPE Connect PGH website. Individuals and organizations with supplies available for donation can submit a donation form and PPE Connect PGH volunteers will pick up the donated PPE supplies.

“RE2 learned about this opportunity to utilize our 3D printing and fabrication capabilities to serve the healthcare workers within our city from Innovation Works,” said Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO of RE2 Robotics. “I reached out to IW to determine how RE2 could help and they introduced me to the incredible team at PPE Connect PGH. We currently have five 3D printers running around the clock to create parts for face shields. I am grateful that we can use our equipment and skills to give back to our city’s healthcare workers and our community.”

“We aim to bring awareness to the growing shortage of personal protection equipment, discover untapped sources of available equipment in the area, create useful DIY equipment, and make the donation of these supplies more convenient and directed,” stated Alejandro Sklar, co-founder, PPE Connect PGH.

“Our primary goal is to find sources of new unused PPE, such as in peoples’ homes or on shelves within organizations. Donations are being distributed to small- and medium-sized providers that don’t have the PPE buying power like the large hospitals in our region,” stated Davit Davitian, co-founder, PPE Connect PGH. “The most in need types of PPE are N95 Respirators and surgical masks, which don’t need to be FDA approved versions. NIOSH approved equipment used for construction and home improvement are perfectly acceptable.”

The Robot Report ‘s COVID-19 coverage is keeping you updated about how the robotics industry is responding to and being affected by the novel coronavirus.