WHITEHALL TWP., Pa — A Lehigh Valley 3D printing company is holding a fundraiser Wednesday at Hawk Mountain Brewery to raise money for Ukrainian limb-loss patients.
The money will be used to purchase and ship 3D printers to Unbroken Ukraine, a medical facility and rehabilitation center in Lviv.
The fundraiser is organized by Proteor Print, formerly Filament Innovations in Whitehall Township.
It’s a digital prosthetics and orthotics 3D printing company that manufactures 3D printers for the prosthetics industry.
The fundraiser goes from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Hawk Mountain Brewery, 3530 Lehigh St.
Proceeds will go to One World Strong to purchase up to five 3D printers.
Organizers say Unbroken Ukraine is the largest medical facility in Ukraine and treats civilians and soldiers affected by war.
"We’re trying to build a network out there that allows people to get back on their feet.”Ryan Beenders, brand manager for Proteor Print in Whitehall Township
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion and war with Ukraine, more than 20,000 wounded Ukrainians have been treated there, including 360 children.
Proteor Print has been supplying 3D printing in Ukraine for the last year or two after a visit by company CEO Mike Gorski, said Ryan Beenders, the local company’s brand manager.
“He learned how 3D printing could work there and the need for rapid prosthetics,” Beenders said of Gorski. “He’s gone back four or five times. We’re trying to build a network out there that allows people to get back on their feet.”
A single 3D printer used to make prosthetics retails for about $25,000, Beenders said.
Proteor Print is part of the global company Proteor, headquartered in France. The Whitehall operation employs about 12 people and manufactures the printers.
Organizers say Hawk Mountainn Brewery will donate a portion of their sales to the Unbroken Ukraine fundraiser. The event will include raffles, T-shirt sales and demonstrations of the printers.
Beenders said you can learn more and make a donation through Proteor Print’s website.
