In the midst of the Corona crisis, Hörluchs creates an improvised mask
In response to the global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), Hörluchs, a company renowned for hearing protection and 3D audio products, has expanded its production capabilities to include 3D printed protective masks. The Hörluchs-Unlimited mask project aims to provide protective masks that can be rapidly produced, customized for better fit and comfort, and reused multiple times.
Production Method and Customization
The masks are produced using high-quality 3D printing technology, typically selective laser sintering (SLS) or multi-jet fusion (MJF), which allows for detailed, durable, and reusable masks. Because 3D printing allows for tailored designs, masks can be customized to fit different face shapes better than traditional disposable masks.
Materials Used
Most Hörluchs 3D printed masks use medical-grade polyamide (PA12), a strong, flexible, lightweight, and biocompatible material that withstands repeated sterilization and is comfortable for extended use. The mask design includes replaceable filter inserts, which can use different certifications (such as FFP2/KN95), and are usually made of fabric or composite filter materials tested to high filtration standards. Some parts of the mask interface contain silicone or rubberized materials added post-printing to enhance the seal and comfort on the face.
Specifications
- Filtration Efficiency: With certified filter inserts, the mask can achieve FFP2 or N95-level filtration against particulates including viruses and bacteria.
- Reusability: The 3D printed frame is disinfectable and reusable; only the filter inserts need to be replaced regularly.
- Weight: The mask frame weighs approximately 50-70 grams depending on size and design features.
- Fit: Adjustable straps or fastening mechanisms ensure a secure fit; the custom 3D-printed fit option allows precise molding to user facial contours.
- Breathability: The design maintains airflow passages optimized for reduced breathing resistance while preserving filtration efficiency.
- Certifications: Hörluchs works to meet European PPE standards and medical device certifications depending on use case and regional regulations.
Additional Features and Initiatives
- The filter element of the "MOVA" mask, another Hörluchs offering, is designed to counteract the spread of own droplets when speaking, sneezing, or coughing.
- Hörluchs donates 10% of the turnover from the "MOVA" mask sales to the local Tafel and the Corona emergency aid fund of the German Red Cross.
Availability
The "MOVA" mask costs 49,90 Euro incl. VAT with 30 filter inserts, offering protection for at least 30 days. Further filters for the "MOVA" mask are available in a set of 30 pieces for 9.90 Euro incl. VAT. The frame of the "MOVA" mask is made of biocompatible plastic.
The "MOVA" mask and the signs created by Fohhn Audio AG can be ordered or obtained through their respective websites: www.hoerluchs-unlimited.com and (not provided in the text).
It is important to replace the filter of the "MOVA" mask regularly after a maximum of 8 hours of wearing. The "MOVA" mask covers only the mouth and nose, allowing the wearer's face to remain recognizable.
Fohhn Audio AG, another exhibitor that has changed their approach to help during the crisis, uses their 3D printers to create signs and donates them to system-relevant institutions. Sustainability is a central aspect of Hörluchs company philosophy, and the mask frame can be used again and again. The signs created by Fohhn Audio AG are not related to the "MOVA" mask or Hörluchs products. The signs created by Fohhn Audio AG are donated to system-relevant institutions, but no specific details about the institutions are provided.
The "MOVA" mask is produced using a modern 3D printing process near Nuremberg. The signs created by Fohhn Audio AG are not mentioned to be part of the "MOVA" mask or Hörluchs products. The "MOVA" mask can be sterilized in a sterilizer at up to 105 degrees steam. After appropriate cleaning and replacement of the filter, the mask is ready for use again. Création Gross GmbH & Co. KG uses a laser cutter to produce about 100,000 filters per day for the "MOVA" mask.
The special material of the "MOVA" mask is certified as a medical product (class 2A). The signs created by Fohhn Audio AG are not mentioned to be part of the "MOVA" mask or Hörluchs products. The "MOVA" mask and the signs created by Fohhn Audio AG are separate initiatives by different companies in response to the crisis.
The masks produced by Hörluchs-Unlimited, in response to the global shortage of personal protective equipment, are manufactured using advanced technology such as selective laser sintering (SLS) or multi-jet fusion (MJF), and can be customized for a better fit and comfort based on health-and-wellness standards. Furthermore, these masks utilize medical-grade polyamide (PA12), a biocompatible material, and include replaceable filter inserts made of fabric or composite materials to maintain their filtration efficiency.
