Polymers, Prototypes and Penguins: Hand Safety Reimagined during Rethink the Rink 2025
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See a video recap of Rethink the Rink Make-a-thon 2025.
~ Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) students recently participated in a one-week Make-a-thon as part of the award-winning Rethink the Rink program. The event, which aimed to increase hand safety in hockey, was a collaboration between CMU, Covestro, the Pittsburgh Penguins professional hockey team, and Bauer Hockey.

The Make-a-thon challenged students to use their ingenuity and problem-solving skills to tackle real safety challenges in ice hockey. This year marked the eighth year of the annual event, which has previously focused on improving safety in areas such as dasher boards, helmets, and other protective gear.

Four teams of students competed in the Make-a-thon, each tasked with designing a groundbreaking prototype for a new hockey glove. With guidance from experts at Covestro and input from the Penguins and Bauer Hockey, the teams worked tirelessly to create innovative solutions.

After careful consideration from judges representing Covestro, the Penguins, CMU, and Bauer Hockey, the green team emerged as the winner with their unique glove design. Inspired by the physical characteristics of an armadillo, their prototype featured a flexible notch system in the fingers that reduced stress by 20% during preliminary testing. It also included a semi-rigid cuff for wrist protection without sacrificing mobility – an important factor for hockey players.

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Penguins president of Business Operations Kevin Acklin expressed his excitement about partnering with Covestro and CMU once again to develop new ideas with some of Pittsburgh's brightest minds. He emphasized that safety is paramount in growing the game of hockey and creating a safe playing environment for players of all ages.

Samir Hifri, chairman and president of Covestro LLC, also highlighted the importance of hand safety not just in sports but in daily life as well. He praised the students' innovations and their potential impact on hand safety both within and beyond the sport of hockey.

The winning designs will now be considered for development by Bauer Hockey, a leading manufacturer of hockey equipment. This partnership between future innovators, material science experts, and athletes aims to improve safety in sports and beyond.

Jon Cagan, David and Susan Coulter Department Head of Mechanical Engineering at CMU, described the Make-a-thon as a "crash course in innovation." He emphasized the unique hands-on learning opportunity it provides for students to collaborate and create real solutions with guidance from industry experts.

The Rethink the Rink initiative was launched in 2018 and has already led to significant improvements in hockey rink design and player equipment. With a focus on sustainability, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its emissions by 2035.

For more information about the Rethink the Rink Make-a-thon and Covestro's commitment to innovation in sports safety, please visit covestro.us.
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