Sustainable 3D Printed Range of Orthotics // Webinar
Watch our sustainable 3D printed custom foot orthoses launch webinar. Our new range of 3D printed orthoses are manufactured from a plant based PA11 material.
FUSION App Update // ver. 1.1.6
Just a very quick note to let you know we have made an update to the FUSION 3D scanning app.
Please update the app to the most recent version 1.1.6
You will find the App’s version number in the notifications window on your FUSION dashboard
How to update apps on your iPad
- Open the App Store, then tap Today at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap your profile icon at the top of the screen.
- Scroll down to see pending updates and release notes. Tap Update next to the FUSION app to update only that app, or tap Update All.
If you are reading this email on an iPad that has FUSION downloaded and you wish to update the app, you can simply tap the text here to bring you to the App Store, where you can update by tapping ‘update’.
Restructured Hours of Business
We are delighted to announce Firefly Orthoses has returned to full operating capacity following lockdown.
During the period of lockdown, we took time to reflect on our work practices across the company. We considered how we might work more efficiently to offer a more productive service to our customers and a better work-life balance for our staff.
We have identified where efficiencies can be found. These include limiting distraction, where possible implementing automation and prioritizing important high-value tasks and interactions. Achieving these efficiencies means we can reduce the time we previously allocated to breaks resulting in a condensed working day where productivity is equal or greater to that of the traditional 8 hour day.
From Monday 6th of July Firefly’s Technical and Customer Support Teams and our lab staff will begin their working day earlier, starting from 8.00 am and finishing at 2.30 pm.
Firefly’s restructured hours does not mean a reduction in the quality of output. But instead, the continued delivery of an industry-leading service performed by an enthusiastic and diligent team whose time spent in Firefly compliments their endeavours away from the company.
As always you can submit questions or queries to our Technical and Customer Support teams 24/7 by email and phone and these will be answered within 24 hours.
We are proud to continue our service supporting the UK and Ireland’s podiatry profession and look forward to strengthening our relationship with you.
Firefly Lab to Re-Open June 2nd
Firefly Orthoses will reopen on Tuesday, June 2nd. With the UK and Irish Governments easing COVID–19 restrictions, Firefly will resume the processing of orders on this date.
On June 2nd, all Firefly departments including lab technicians, customer service, and finance will be operational and available to assist you as necessary. Initially, our lab technicians and technical support departments will function with a reduced but complete team, as we adhere to new health and safety procedures. As demand increases, we will re-introduce members of the team in a manner that ensures the health and safety of all team members.
Before our closure at the end of March, a number of orders were mid-production and were not completed or dispatched. If you have orders that were stopped mid-production, please let us know when you plan to re-open your clinic by emailing [email protected], we can then make arrangements for these orders to be completed and dispatched.
Customers with new or subsequent pair orders ready to submit to Firefly for production can do so now but these orders will not enter our production process until June 2nd. Our customer support team will advise when these orders will be shipped to you.
Please note: to avoid “return to sender” courier fees, we will only dispatch orders for clinics that have confirmed they are open and ready to receive shipments.
We are excited to reopen and return to doing what we do best, providing you with industry-leading custom made foot orthoses. Although the new vista and challenges presented by this global pandemic will affect how we all live and do business, we at Firefly are looking forward to continuing to work closely with you as you serve your community in these difficult times.
We are grateful for your continued support and loyalty.
Take care and stay safe.
Team Firefly
Pre-order FUSION now
FUSION, Firefly’s 3D foot scanning app for iPad is now available for pre-order in the Apple App Store. Discover how FUSION can help you achieve better patient outcomes.
FIREFLY IS NOW AN APPROVED JOSCAR SUPPLIER
Firefly Orthoses Ltd is now an approved supplier on the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR).
This means Firefly Orthoses’ has optimised its policies and procedures to adhere to a more streamlined supply chain process as set out by Leidos.
Firefly’s products are now available to all major buying organisations using JOSCAR.
Meeting the JOSCAR approval requirements has implemented improvements to the way Firefly manages Supplier Assurance information by minimising risk within Firefly’s supply chain.
FUSION: Firefly’s foot scanning app for iPad
What is FUSION?
At the recent College of Podiatry Conference 2019, we offered delegates a sneak peek of FUSION, Firefly’s portable foot scanning application for iPad and we are delighted to report it caused quite a buzz!
We are working hard to present the podiatric profession an app for iPad that will bring efficiencies to how podiatrists capture patient foot data and create foot orthotic prescriptions.
Firefly demo FUSION 3D foot scanning app
How will FUSION compare to other 3D scanning apps?
We have used and reviewed many of the foot scanning apps currently available to the profession. We have identified where some of these apps fall short and how they could be improved. FUSION incorporates the best from these apps and goes further offering new and innovative features unique to the FUSION app!
You will discover several features that will help you achieve better patient outcomes. These include FUSION’s Favourites Templates – create and save device types and spec you frequently order, FUSION’s dashboard allows you see where your order is in Firefly’s manufacturing process and you can quickly and easily order second and subsequent sets of orthoses with the touch of a button!
When will it be released?
We don’t have a specific release date for FUSION but hope to publish in Apple’s App Store in mid to late February 2020. We are testing the app within our clinical division of Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics and among a select number of associated Firefly podiatrists.
Why do I want it?
Aside from the obvious benefits of no longer having to be reliant on plaster of Paris or foam box impressions, FUSION integrates Firefly’s prescription form and the app’s advanced Structure Sensor technology allows podiatrists capture patient foot data anywhere, whether in clinic or on domiciliary visits.
FUSION aligns with Firefly’s 3D printed custom foot orthoses to offer a start-to-finish digital prescription and manufacture experience. Further details on our 3D printed devices will be announced in the coming months.
Will the app be available for Android?
Currently, there are no plans to roll out FUSION on any Android platforms. This is because FUSION requires Structure Sensor’s scanning hardware which is designed for Apple products only.
Firefly reveal first 3D printed foot orthotics
We are excited to announce the production and distribution of our first batch of 3D printed foot orthotics. The move to produce 3D printed orthotics is part of a company-wide policy of adopting more processes and procedures that align with current and future technologies, both in the manufacture of orthoses and in how podiatrists interact with their patients during the prescription processes.
Initial sets of 3D printed orthotics have been produced and shipped to select Firefly associate podiatrists.
Developments in technology have allowed for new manufacturing methods to produce products that offer more benefits for both the podiatrist and patient.
Our state of the art devices are constructed by a multi-jet fusion process which provides unprecedented design freedom for Firefly to create innovative designs to help the podiatrist achieve better patient outcomes.
Our 3D printed range will allow for quicker turn around times which means the podiatrist can have prescription orthoses back with the patient for fitting quicker.
For the patient, the manufacturing technique changes the boundaries of what is achievable. Firefly is working on innovative designs that will allow the podiatrist treat complex foot and ankle pathologies by selecting from a suite of 3D printed device types with novel design features. Lower-level patient benefits include personalisation of devices by potentially incorporating the patients name in the product design.
Greater numbers of Firefly associate podiatrists are using the iOS/Structure Sensor scanning combination to capture patient foot data. This has lead to Firefly producing our own iPad scanning application that is due for release in the coming months.
Firefly MSK Workshop | Dundalk
The Firefly MSK Workshop is returning to Ireland this September. Learn effective MSK assessments and
foot orthotic prescription writing techniques so you can achieve better patient outcomes.
Firefly MSK Workshop is a month away
We’re just over a month away from our next CPD accredited Firefly MSK Workshop scheduled for June 29th in central London and only a handful of places remain.
The event is designed to help you achieve better patient outcomes and forces on the following topics:
- force vs alignment (theory)
- simple but effective MSK assessments
- prescription writing for custom made foot orthoses
- case studies
The workshop begins by laying down a theoretical grounding from which the practical aspects of the workshop can be built upon. Firefly podiatrists will demonstrate a number of simple but effective MSK assessments that you can use in your clinic to help influence how you treat a range of pathologies.
It may appear there are many barriers to prescribing custom made foot orthoses. The workshop is designed to remove these barriers and broaden your scope of podiatric practice. Why refer your patient’s on for orthotic therapy when you can lead their pathology management?
For further details, including Workshop schedule, MSK assessments, CPD points and previous attendee testimonials, visit our workshop page.