Mondelēz deploys chocolate-making technology to make medical visors for NHS staff

Mondelēz International has teamed up with engineering company 3P innovation to make medical visors for the front line NHS staff.

Mondelēz is repurposing its 3D printing technology used to make chocolate sculptures at Bournville, the home of Cadbury, to help print the device.

The effort is part of an industry wide initiative launched last week by 3P to bring together businesses and individuals who can help produce, assemble and distribute the visors to hospitals, doctors’ surgeries and clinics across the UK.

Mondelēz is helping to produce the hard-plastic bands which connect the top and bottom of the visor. It has also invested money into the project so 3P can buy injection mould technology, which will mean the visors can be mass produced.

The first visors have already been to a Warwickshire NHS clinic. 3P aims to make and deliver up to 10,000 units every week.

Louise Stigant, UK managing director at Mondelēz, said: “The NHS and other frontline services are doing an incredible job and we want to support them wherever we can.

“I’m extremely proud that our research and food engineering teams have come up with a creative way to repurpose our chocolate making skills and technology, so we can make and print parts for the medical visors. By working in partnership with 3P and other businesses we can scale our operations and help protect those who are working so hard to protect us and beat coronavirus.”

For Cadbury’s Bournville factory, this builds on its history of stepping in to assist the nation in times of crisis. The factory used to make gas masks, jerricans, service respirators and aeroplane parts for Spitfires and Lancaster Bombers during WWII.

Mondelēz has also announced over £2 million in donations to support local communities, charities, foodbanks and people working in the NHS and other frontline services in the UK.

“We have a rich history of supporting people, communities and businesses through the Cadbury Foundation and our network of national and local charity partners,” Stigant added.

“Coronavirus is impacting all our lives and that support is needed now more so than ever and our colleagues are going the extra mile to selflessly help others at what is an incredibly challenging time.”