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Additive Manufacturing: Enabling Faster Industrial Growth in Africa

Additive manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing, is an advanced manufacturing technology that is slowly but surely changing industrial production globally. While its adoption has gained significant traction in regions like Europe, America and Asia, Africa has only recently begun to recognize additive manufacturing’s value as a catalyst for economic development. The rise of additive manufacturing in Africa presents both opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed to unlock its full potential.

Additive manufacturing in Africa remains in its nascent stages, with limited adoption and infrastructure compared to more developed regions. According to a report in Manufacturing Review, between 2010 and 2018, 37% of industrial additive manufacturing systems were installed in…

Mintek adds a laser powder bed fusion 3D printer to array of cutting-edge technology

The acquisition of the AMAZEMET rePowder ultrasonic atomisation and alloy development machine by Mintek, South Africa’s national mineral research council, marked a technological breakthrough for the mineral processing and manufacturing industry. Mintek is proud to announce the purchase of a GE Additive Concept Laser Mlab Cusing R laser powder bed fusion 3D printer. Multitrade 3D Systems supplied and installed the machine.

Thales deploys AddUp 350 in Morocco metal 3D printing facility

AddUp has installed a FormUp 350 quad laser machine at Thales 3D Morocco’s Casablanca-based facility.

The machine has been qualified under the European space protocol ECSS-Q-ST-70-80 C and is said to have met the technical requirements for some of the most challenging applications in the Thales ecosystem.

AddUp’s FormUp 350, launched in 2021, has been designed to be modular and scalable with four lasers each covering 100% of the build volume, and the machine equipped with advanced traceability and production control options to ensure it meets the ‘highest expectations in terms of productivity.’

As part of the dynamic between the two companies, AddUp will provide production assistance to Thales, with twin machines located at an AddUp facility. These twin machines are currently undergoing the same validation process, helping to ensure business continuity when demand increases above Thales’ capacity.

Thales opened its metal additive manufacturing facility in Casablanca in 2017, strategically basing its Thales 3D Morocco business in the heart of the local aerospace ecosystem. Since then, it has used metal 3D printing to deliver parts for heat sinks, radio frequency components and antenna supports in industries such as space, aviation and security.

With the addition of the FormUp 350 capacity, Thales 3D Morocco expects to expand its application opportunities, while also achieving an increase in productivity and reduction in costs.

Mintek’s AMAZEMET acquisition to support SA’s additive manufacturing ambitions

Mintek’s latest technological acquisition, the AMAZEMET rePowder ultrasonic atomisation and alloy development machine, is an extremely advanced piece of equipment that is expected to strengthen and bolster the country’s minerals-based and three-dimensional (3D) printing industries.

The machine also aligns with the national mineral processing and metallurgical research council’s goal of providing critical infrastructure for South Africa’s industrial development.

14Trees launches Iroko 3D printer for construction made in Africa

14 Trees, a joint venture (JV) between construction materials company Holcim and UK governmental development finance institution British International Investment (BII), has launched its new construction-ready three-dimensional (3D) printer, Iroko, to improve construction speed, cost and flexibility, while scaling up digital automation to build resilient and affordable housing, education infrastructure and commercial real estate worldwide.

The Iroko 3D construction printers were co-designed and manufactured with construction equipment company PMSA. The printers’ mobility and optimised assembly are key tenets of the design by 14Trees, it…

Orascom Construction and Cobod Create JV to Bring the Latest 3D Printing Construction Technology to Egypt

Orascom Construction PLC (NASDAQ Dubai: OC; EGX: ORAS) announces that it has formed an exclusive partnership with Denmark-based COBOD International to bring the latest 3D Printing Construction (“3DPC”) technology for the first time to Egypt.

The partnership, owned 76% by Orascom Construction and 24% by COBOD, will play a leading role in the technological advancement of the construction sector in Egypt. Not only is this new technology more cost and time efficient compared to traditional methods of construction, but it…

KU Students Utilizes 3D Printers to Produce Improved Nasal Swabs

Kenyatta University fourth year Biotechnology student Simon Ndirangu has come up with an innovation that uses 3D printers to produce and develop improved nasal swabs.

The process allows for production of up to 3,000 swabs a day and greatly enhances the testing capacity in Kenya that has been hampered by low availability of testing kits. Ndirangu says his swabs are…

Interview with Elizabeth Rogers of Kuunda 3D and Daniel Martinez of Copper 3D on Copper 3D Antimicrobial 3D Printing

The 3D printing industry continues to experience more great gradual improvements. Special mention goes to the recent development by Copper 3D with their Antimicrobial filament. In order to provide this breakthrough innovation to Africa, Copper 3D has partnered a West and East African reseller of 3D printers and materials, Kuunda 3D. In this interview, we discuss with Elizabeth Rogers of Kuunda 3D and Daniel Martinez of Copper 3D on this development.

Please explain to us the Copper 3D Antimicrobial 3D printing filament?

Martinez: We are talking about technology that allows that anyone in any part of the world, with a low-cost printer, an intelligent design, and an antimicrobial material, can create objects that are no longer only support structures (passive objects) but now we can create “active objects”, that is, objects and …

3D Printing in Africa: Kenya and 3D Printing

Kenya has been considered to be a hub for innovation in Africa. Personally, I started working with Kenya in 3D printing technology with a Makerbot Reseller, Amit Shah who runs Objet Kenya which is a 3D printing service provider based in Nairobi. Similar to the feelings of a first love, this is how I feel about Kenya in terms of 3D printing.

There are several other companies offering 3D printing services in Kenya and the country has a great entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. This has made 3D printing a very sensible and lovable technology and if there is something that fires it all: it is the Kenyan will to provide homegrown solutions. Kenya loves to…

Meet the Digital Blacksmiths : Forging Futures on a 3D Anvil

In a world awash with waste plastic, William Hoyle may feel a little like he is trying to plug a dam with a crumpled plastic bottle, but as good fights go, it’s hard to find fault with his charity’s Digital Blacksmiths initiative – which recycles plastic waste for use in 3D printers.

Tech for Trade, the UK-based charity that he founded in 2011, works at the interface of technology, trade and entrepreneurship. They recently developed the world’s first open source system for recycling plastic bottles into the filament used in 3D printing.

For the modest sum of £9,452, they plan – from headquarters in the University of Nairobi’s Makerspace/Fablab – to trial this technology by producing 100 scientific microscopes, designed by…

Blog Name

Additive Manufacturing: Enabling Faster Industrial Growth in Africa

Mintek adds a laser powder bed fusion 3D printer to array of cutting-edge technology

Thales deploys AddUp 350 in Morocco metal 3D printing facility

Mintek’s AMAZEMET acquisition to support SA’s additive manufacturing ambitions

14Trees launches Iroko 3D printer for construction made in Africa

Orascom Construction and Cobod Create JV to Bring the Latest 3D Printing Construction Technology to Egypt

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KU Students Utilizes 3D Printers to Produce Improved Nasal Swabs

Interview with Elizabeth Rogers of Kuunda 3D and Daniel Martinez of Copper 3D on Copper 3D Antimicrobial 3D Printing

3D Printing in Africa: Kenya and 3D Printing

Meet the Digital Blacksmiths : Forging Futures on a 3D Anvil

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Additive Manufacturing: Enabling Faster Industrial Growth in Africa

Mintek adds a laser powder bed fusion 3D printer to array of cutting-edge technology

Thales deploys AddUp 350 in Morocco metal 3D printing facility

Mintek’s AMAZEMET acquisition to support SA’s additive manufacturing ambitions