Collaborating with global efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, plastic machine manufacturer SML has commenced industrial production of PET sheet, the main component in plastic face shields, at the SML headquarters in Redlham in Vöcklabruck, Austria, this week. Production takes place on a state-of-the-art line for calendered sheets. The extrusion line produces enough material for up to 10,000 face shields per hour. Within record time, ongoing development work at SML has been repurposed for the production of cost-effective face shields for the personal protection of risk groups and people in critical infrastructures.
The sheets are processed into face shields at Kiefel Technologies in Freilassing, Bavaria, a partner company of SML. “Our cross-border cooperation efforts to produce these much needed face shields showcases yet again how quickly, flexibly and non-bureaucratically companies can respond to challenges such as these – it also underlines the importance of reliable partnerships in Europe, particularly in a situation like this”, the Managing Director of SML, Karl Stöger, comments.
Two types of face shields are produced – based on 0.3 mm and 0.15 mm thin PET sheet respectively. One of the shields is equipped with a dimensionally stable, reusable plastic bow. This gives the PET sheet, which is only 0.15 millimetres thick, the right structure. This very thin film can be regularly exchanged. It is suitable for wearers in the retail trade or service providers. The other shield consists entirely of a punched, 0.3 millimetre thick PET sheet. It is designed as a convenient, disposable application for frequent changes and specifically for doctors or nursing staff.
The PET sheet can be recycled 100%, for example along with PET bottles and other PET products. Thus in terms of a functioning circular economy, face shields of PET are an environmentally friendly solution.