Belgian 3D printing specialist develops anti-corona door opener

Opening and closing doors without using hands

COVID-19 is keeping all of the world in suspense, filling up hospitals and claiming many lives. Experts believe that the coronavirus can survive for a long time on surfaces. Among other things, door handles pose a high risk of infection, and they are just now very frequently touched by everyone in homes, businesses, hospitals, assisted living facilities and any other building. Materialise, a pioneer in 3D printing, developed a 3D printed door opener that allows people to open and close doors without using their hands. The company is making its design available worldwide for 3D printing the door opener locally.

What began as a type of flu in China has since gripped the entire world. Every day the coronavirus causes infected people and deaths. People are asked to stay indoors and only go outside when absolutely necessary, such as to work (if working from home is not possible) or to run errands. Everyone is given the directive to keep their distance and wash their hands regularly.

The door opener is equipped with a paddle-shaped extension that allows people to open and close doors with their arms instead of their hands.

Paddle-shaped extension

Experts believe that COVID-19 can survive for a long time on surfaces, for example on door handles. These are just now very frequently touched by everyone: at home, in companies and in healthcare facilities, where, unlike other places, it is incredibly busy. After all, for safety reasons, not all doors can be left open. To help prevent the spread of the virus, Materialise, a 3D printing specialist from Leuven, developed a 3D printed door opener. It attaches to the existing door handle without drilling holes or replacing the door handle and is equipped with a paddle-shaped extension that allows people to open and close doors with their arms instead of their hands.

Digitally available

"The idea for this 3D printed door handle actually originated during an internal meeting to determine measures we could use to protect our own employees and visitors from the coronavirus," explained Fried Vancraen, CEO of Materialise. "The power of 3D printing and our three decades of expertise in this field made it possible to turn this idea into an innovative product in less than 24 hours. We are making this design available digitally, allowing it to be produced on 3D printers anywhere in the world."