"Overcoming COVID-19" Volkswagen Factory Produces 'Face Shield Parts'... Donation to Spain

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Volkswagen Group announced on the 7th that, as part of efforts to respond to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, it has started producing holders for face shields using 3D printing technology.

This is part of an international project jointly promoted by the 3D printing network (Mobile goes Additive), which includes Airbus and over 250 companies. The produced items will be used in Spain. The products are scheduled to be transported from Hamburg to Madrid via an Airbus flight this week. Volkswagen Group plans to produce as many holders as possible within this week. In addition, brands under Volkswagen Group are conducting various projects to manufacture medical supplies.

The face shields, equipped with transparent screens, protect the entire face. Volkswagen Group employees participating in the holder production wear gloves and face masks to ensure strict hygiene standards. The employees are working at full speed to produce emergency supplies as quickly as possible. Production is ongoing not only at the 3D printing centers located in Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt but also at the manufacturing plants of Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, MAN Truck & Bus, Porsche, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Volkswagen Group Components, and Volkswagen Motorsport. Volkswagen Group currently operates more than 50 3D printers and is continuously increasing the number of printers for this project.

Lamborghini, SEAT, ?koda, and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars division are also working hard to supply other medical supplies. Volkswagen Navarra (Spain) started producing face shields last week and has already delivered about 1,000 units to the Navarra government. ?koda, in cooperation with the Czech Technical University in Prague, developed a 3D printing process capable of producing reusable FFP3 respirator masks. The Czech Ministry of Health is distributing these masks to doctors, nurses, and hospitals.

Lamborghini is converting part of its super sports car production plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese to manufacture surgical masks and plexiglass protective gear for medical staff. The masks produced here will be donated to hospitals in Bologna. SEAT is also promoting several collaborative projects, including the production of mechanical ventilators to be assembled in Martorell and various face masks awaiting certification from relevant authorities. Volkswagen South Africa is also producing masks and face shields using 3D printing, pending certification from the authorities.

A dedicated task force team of more than 30 experts within Volkswagen Group is leading the 3D printing sector, coordinating product specifications, materials, printing software, and workforce allocation across the group.

Volkswagen Group has donated hundreds of thousands of medical face masks to public health facilities in Germany so far. Additionally, it has decided to donate medical supplies such as face masks and protective clothing worth 40 million euros (approximately 53 billion KRW) to hospitals and medical facilities. Through this, Volkswagen Group plans to contribute to maintaining the functionality of the German healthcare system. Furthermore, as a global company, it is supporting medical devices and supplies by utilizing worldwide supply logistics networks.

Organizations and brands under Volkswagen Group worldwide continue support activities to overcome the COVID-19 crisis together with local communities. Audi Group announced a support plan worth 5 million euros (approximately 660 million KRW). On the 30th of last month, Audi Group donated 600,000 euros (approximately 80 million KRW) to hospitals in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.