HASTINGS, Neb. – When Rakesh Srivastava sees an opportunity to help others, he’s going to take action.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate has proven that time and again throughout his career, so it’s no surprise that he’s stepping up to support the state during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Right now our community needs protection from this virus and the pandemic we’re in. So why not change direction and make something that can be used in this fight?” said Srivastava, who earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications management from UNK in 2002 and a master’s degree in instructional technology with an emphasis in assistive technology in 2006.
At his Shabri manufacturing facility in Hastings, Srivastava and three employees are using 3D-printing technology to produce the personal protective equipment that’s currently in short supply across the country.
“We don’t have many resources in our local area to produce some of these items, and the demand is going to increase every day,” Srivastava said.
Srivastava launched Shabri in February 2019 as an affiliate company of Innovative Prosthetics and Orthotics, which he started in 2006 and has since expanded to include clinics in Hastings, Grand Island, Omaha and his home country of India that provide comprehensive prosthetic, orthotic and durable medical equipment services.
Typically, Shabri manufactures custom-made prosthetic devices for patients while also fulfilling orders for customers, including those in the agricultural and brewing industries, that can utilize 3D printing instead of casting to have parts made faster and cheaper.
As the coronavirus outbreak worsened in the U.S., Srivastava shifted the facility’s focus about a month ago to producing 3D-printed face masks and shields.
The products, which are reusable, serve a diverse clientele – from individuals looking for added protection when
