Deep tech startup Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, founded by IIT Madras Alumni, has collaborated with Saint-Gobain, a leading multinational company, to develop a 3D-printed Doffing Unit to protect India’s healthcare workers in the frontlines against Covid-19. Two Doffing Units have already been launched with a third one under construction.

The first such unit has already been deployed at a Government Hospital in Kancheepuram near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, while the second unit has been established at Omandurar Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. The Foundation Stone for the third Doffing Unit has been laid at Government Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvalluvar.

‘Doffing’ is the procedure of ‘effective and safe’ removal and proper disposal of PPE. Such Doffing Units are critical for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to sanitize themselves after their shifts, safely remove the PPE kits and dispose of them properly. This will ensure that the healthcare workers can go home without taking the risk of carrying the infection.

The major advantage of a 3D Printed Doffing Unit is that the time spent by construction workers at the hospital, which will be filled with Covid-19 Patients is minimal. The units are printed offsite with only assembly happening onsite - the hospital. This particular structure was built using Tvasta’s 3D Printing facility in Perungudi, Chennai and transported to the construction site in a modular manner.

The concrete 3D printing technology is a ‘Ready-to-Implement Methodology’ with no lead time on manufacturing, which significantly reduces the construction time. This ‘Made In India’ technology has the potential to change the term ‘building’ to ‘printing’ in the near future

Ma. Subramanian, Minister for medical and family welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated the Doffing Units at Government Headquarters Hospital, Kancheepuram, and Omandurar Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, on 16th July, 2021 while also laying the foundation stone for the unit coming up at Government Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvalluvar.

P K Sekar Babu, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Government of Tamil, Dr J Radhakrishnan IAS, Principal Secretary, department of health and family welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Lise Talbot Barre, Consul General of France in Puducherry and Chennai, were also present at the function.