Per Andréen, born and raised in Vetlanda and Design Engineer at Hydro Extrusion, has, like most inhabitants in Sweden, followed the development of the Corona crisis in the media. A recurring point has been the global lack of protective equipment for healthcare professionals. Per and his colleagues at the Design Engineer department in Hydro Extrusion decided to take the matter into their own hands.

They started an intensive search for PETG material, which is a shock-resistant, odor-free and transparent plastic material for the visor itself. During the Corona crisis, PETG has become a scarce commodity across Europe, which led Per to contact a large number of suppliers in Sweden to come across a batch. The material problem was finally solved and shortly thereafter the "Hydro visor" was born in record time.

"This crisis shows that many obstacles can be overcome only if you are creative and solution-focused. After all, a large part of our everyday work is spent on it. I saw it as a chance to use my skills and experience to make a difference. For me it is a matter of contributing. Healthcare professionals around Sweden are doing a fantastic job right now. They carry the society on their shoulders. The "Hydro visor" can hopefully ease their burden, says Per Andréen", Design Engineer at Hydro Extrusion in Vetlanda.

When the design was complete, Per presented the “Hydro visor” for the Municipality of Vetlanda. Annika Wikståhl at the municipal procurement department and Helen Karlsson, medically responsible nurse, are both very pleased with the construction.

"After seeing the prototype, we are very grateful that Hydro wants to give us this type of visor. The visors maintain high quality and meet the set requirements. A major advantage is that the visor is made to be used many times after cleaning," says Annika Wikståhl.

"The visors are gratefully received in our staff groups and will be of great benefit", says Helen Karlsson.

The 3D printers at Hydro Extrusion are now working at high speed to meet the high demand. In a short time, the Design Engineering department, with Per in the lead, has redesigned the 3D printers to produce a large amount of “Hydro visors”. Some production also takes place at Per’s own house.

The first 70 visors were delivered April 30. In total, Hydro Extrusion will donate 100 visors to the municipality of Vetlanda.

"We are very happy with the response which also help to create pride among the employees. People have an outstanding ability to quickly solve problems in crisis situations," says Per.