Durst is now producing three-layer face masks which include a high-filtration efficiency filter membrane at its production HQ in Italy and the design, software solution, cutting guides and materials will be available to Durst textile printers in Australia in the coming weeks.
Durst has used its years of experience and knowledge of filter systems to stop microparticles in ink supply systems from clogging up print heads to develop the material for the filter membrane used in the masks.
Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman says it is this inner lining which sets the Durst masks apart from others with the lining now in the final stages of certification from European medical authorities.
“The filter membrane was something we worked hard to get and make sure it is certified,” Ashman told Sprinter.
“It is going through the European medical certification process at the moment.
“It hasn’t gone this way in Australia yet but in Europe it looks like wearing a face mask in public is going to be compulsory probably for the rest of the year.”
Ashman said the intellectual property around the design, e-commerce solution and production and cutting of the masks will soon be made available globally and he is working with a number of printers in Australia to roll-out production.
“Durst have offered the whole IP and the whole solution to its textile customers globally and we have a few in Australia who I am in discussions with about going into production but they need to have a Durst textile printer and the e-commerce solution which we have,” Ashman said.
“So this includes the design, the software solution to sell it online, the cutting guides and the filter we will supply that as well. For the first customers who start we will provide the first 50 metres of filter free of charge.”
The masks come in four sizes and are full adjustable and re-usable.
They have a three-layer structure using polyester fleece textile materials which are comfortable to wear and washable. The filter membrane can be disinfected with alcohol and reused.
It must be noted that Durst HQ has explicitly pointed out that this is not a protective equipment in accordance with VO (E) 2016/425 or a medical device in accordance with Directive 93/42 / EEC.
“Technically the only barrier we have got at the moment is shipping the filter from Europe so I would say in the next three weeks,” Ashman said.
“We have done this because obviously a lot of our customers are furloughed or not so busy so this is a way of producing a product that is in need or even producing a product to help the community if they wanted to do it as a not for profit.”
To read more about the mask technology, click here.
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