3D Printing Hope

Seeking to Change Veterans' Lives with a Design Challenge

Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS), a global leader in additive technology solutions, sponsored and took part in a 72-hour “Makers for Heroes Make-a-Thon” event in Tel Aviv. The event sought to develop devices and find solutions for various challenges veterans face as a result of injuries received while in service.

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After her injury, Zarita had problems with balance and dizziness and was unable to dance. At the Make-a-Thon event, she received a custom support device that enabled her to dance again. (Photo: Business Wire)

Solutions were tailored to participating veterans’ needs, with a variety of professionals sharing skills to address particular challenges faced by each veteran. The event was organized by RESTART, a non-profit organization that aids veterans with physical disabilities by helping them disengage from the injury cycle and restore their lives. An additional partner, Challenge America, assisted wounded veterans from the U.S.

The first-of-its-kind international Make-a-Thon brought together wounded veterans from the U.S., France and Israel, with innovation teams using 3D printing and other design and fabrication processes. Teams included representatives from companies including designers, programmers, engineers, physiotherapists, medical doctors, and psychologists. The event was held April 30 to May 2 at Impact Labs, a technological community center for product development, in Tel Aviv.

Helping one veteran by finding a solution can often assist many others with similar problems. The event’s goal was to create 3D printed solutions that could be later developed into products for wider use. Following the event, solutions that serve a wider need may be developed for replicable products through the TOM Platform (Tikkun Olam Makers Platform) worldwide. TOM develops and distributes affordable products for people with a range of disabilities.

“3D printing is a perfect fit for this type of endeavor because it excels at producing customized and personalized designs,” says Arita Mattsoff, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Stratasys. “You can quickly and economically 3D print your idea and make design iterations that result in a custom fit for each person.”

“Our team included eight volunteer employees to staff one of twelve innovation teams,” continued Mattsoff. “Stratasys encourages employee engagement for community, which is a key part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program and culture. The CSR program engages employees to take part in societal change and help make an impact.” Stratasys volunteers came from various disciplines, including innovation, technology, healthcare, human resources and IT.