MSI Quickly Completes Pro bono Project to Support Frontline Workers Fighting Covid-19
On April 14, 2020, MSI received a call from Prisma Health, the largest not-for-profit health organization in South Carolina, with a request to build a mold that would produce Ear Savers for their 32,000 employees who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An Ear Saver, or mask holder, is made from 100% recycled polyethylene and is a small plastic adapter that improves the fit of surgical masks to make them more comfortable for long-term wear. The hooks let the wearer use a mask of almost any size and they remove pressure from the ears, which can cause discomfort and irritation.
Prototype of Ear Saver mold
“THIS WAS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY EACH DAY TO HELP OTHERS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS AND IF WE CAN PROVIDE JUST A LITTLE MORE COMFORT TO THEIR LIVES, THEN THAT’S SOMETHING WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY AND WILLING TO DO.”
Prisma could have had this part produced on a 3D printer, which would have allowed for the production of only a few parts per hour. Given the size of its workforce and the time-sensitive nature of the situation, it was imperative for Prisma to find a scalable solution that could be turned around quickly. After being contacted, MSI agreed to produce the mold and within two days completed the design. MSI then machined, polished and assembled the mold in five days. The mold makes 400 Ear Savers per hour, a much more efficient and cost-effective solution compared to the 3D printer that was being used.
MSI designed and built the Ear Saver mold for free, and the company will be donating the molded parts. “This was our opportunity to help those who are working tirelessly each day to help others,” said Roger Klouda, president of MSI Mold Builders. “These individuals are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis and if we can provide just a little more comfort to their lives, then that’s something we are more than happy and willing to do.”
In addition to Prisma Health, MSI has committed parts to other facilities at no cost, including Mercy Health in Iowa City, Iowa; Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Legacy Health in Portland, Oregon.
If you are on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19 and think your employees could benefit from this part, please click below and we will be in touch to set up a time to discuss.
