They wear tuxedos, 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.”

"When we heard about Purps, we knew this was an opportunity to bring creative thinking and innovation technologies together to solve a unique challenge. This project highlights the power of Henkel Adhesive technologies and how 3D Printing can provide a significant impact on life, even for animals in our community. It's been such an honor to support Purps through her injury and provide her an improved quality of life."
Cindy Deekitwong, Global Head of Marketing, Incubator Business at Henkel Adhesive Technologies

The LOCTITE® brand’s elastomeric resin was used to 3D print the boot to provide the necessary support for Purps to continue living a normal, active life. The resin used features high-performance mechanical properties that offer durability, a superior tear strength, and long-term stability. The boot was a resounding success and even though the team created multiple boots for Purps to have on hand, she continues to wear the very first LOCTITE® adhesive iteration of the boot.

"Our work at the aquarium is to inspire people to care for our oceans and the animals that rely on these important ecosystems and we do that through education, conservation and research. The journey to get Purps a boot was really about doing all three. It brought an incredibly diverse group of people with varying areas of expertise from across our community to solve this unique challenge. It’s a connection we’ll always have and be grateful for and represents the power of innovation in helping to protect our planet and the species that inhabit it."
Mystic Aquarium

Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies business is about transformation and innovation and our products support more than 800 different industries. From packaging and papers to automotive and industrials, our adhesives, sealants and coatings are the result of unmatched technology and innovation designed to help change and improve the products and processes we rely on. Purps’ story is another way our brands are bringing innovative, tailor-made solutions to communities… and meeting even the most unique needs.

Henkel

Henkel

About Henkel in North America
In North America, Henkel operates across its three business units: Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care, and Laundry & Home Care. Its portfolio of well-known consumer and industrial brands includes Schwarzkopf® hair care, Dial® soaps, Right Guard® antiperspirants, Persil®, Purex®, and all® laundry detergents, Snuggle® fabric softeners as well as Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives. With sales of around 6 billion US dollars (5 billion euros) in 2019, North America accounts for 26 percent of the company’s global sales. Henkel employs approximately 9,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.henkel-northamerica.com, and on Twitter @Henkel_NA.

About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2019, Henkel reported sales of more than 20 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of more than 3.2 billion euros. Henkel employs more than 52,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose to create sustainable value, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. For more information, please visit www.henkel.com.

More from Henkel