They wear tuxedo’s, have flippers instead of wings, and parade around with arguably one of the most adorable waddles on the planet. Penguins are majestic and a special part of our marine ecosystem.
So, when a local penguin needed help healing. Henkel and its partners stepped up.
Purps is an endangered African Penguin living in a colony at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, not far from Henkel North America’s headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. After injuring her ankle, Purps was in need of support to enhance her mobility and ensure she could carry on as a happy, active penguin.
Helping Purps heal became a true community effort. With the help of ACT 3D Equipment and Services, local middle school students and other community partners, a special boot was designed for Purps. While the initial boot greatly improved her quality of life, daily wear and tear meant it consistently needed to be replaced.
“The original boot was successful in improving Purps’ gait, but we found that it needed to be replaced often due to wear and tear. We knew the boot needed to be reprinted in a more durable material such that it could withstand the environmental aspects of Purps’ everyday life,” said Emily Turcan, Applications Engineer at ACT 3D. “We reached out to our partner LOCTITE®, looking for assistance in identifying a high-performance material that would combat the environmental and durability challenges. The LOCTITE® adhesives team worked tirelessly and developed a material that dramatically increased the life-span of the boot and provided Purps with the support needed to live a happy life.”