Emergence of additive manufacturing in global scale during the crisis of 2019-nCoV (novel corona virus)

The global pandemic COVID-19 has emerged as a bane for the human race. The emergence of this disease was initially noted in Wuhan, China and slowly spreading to large number of countries. The greater number of positive cases and increasing mortality rate clubbed with no prescribed medication to cure has led to greater impact on global society and has badly hit the manufacturing sector. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is considered to be primary source of manufacturing in meeting the supply chain towards medical devices and protection kits. This paper discusses the response of global AM community in development of essential products in the desired time span for greater cure.