PIEP participates in several national and international solidarity and protection initiatives against COVID-19

Given the turbulent period that we are going through, and being unable to remain indifferent to the needs of professionals at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, the PIEP (Pole of Innovation in Polymer Engineering) mobilized from an early age to help entities in need of protective material to contribute to minimizing the damage caused by the pandemic.

At first, PIEP developed by 3D printing in its facilities, individual protection visors that were offered to the Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, in Guimarães.

Already joining forces with other entities, such as the University of Minho, DoneLab, Ernesto São Simão and Fly London, it was possible to produce and distribute more than 40,000 visors to people and entities in need and with difficulties to acquire them.

Internationally, in conjunction with Galician entities and companies, in the framework of the ValorNature project, led by PIEP, more than 15,000 visors were produced in a short time, from 10,000 end-of-life wooden hangers. These visors were donated to hospital centers and social entities. In this context of PIEP’s circular economy – of solidary development of sustainable protection visors – 350 visors were donated to the Municipality of Guimarães.

PIEP, in consortium with CITEVE – Technological Center of the Textile and Clothing Industries of Portugal and TrimNW, Molded Parts and Nonwovens, Lda, recently applied to Portugal 2020, referring to the notice AAC 15/SI/2020, R&D Companies – COVID-19. The project appears as a response to the need and growing demand for materials, components, personal protective equipment and medical devices that promote an improved barrier effect, for the end user, against infectious and microbial agents.