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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…

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…

Bradley Pulford, VP and MD of HP Africa, outlines how digital manufacturing and 3D printing can support African economies. He also gives his predictions on the development of the digital manufacturing sector in 2021.

Africa started to deploy 3D printing over a decade ago and today there is even bigger potential for additive manufacturing on the continent. The rise in 3D printing also means that there is greater demand for customisation, meaning that manufacturers will need to…

Elisabeth Moreno, the Vice President and Managing Director Africa at HP Technology, talks to us about HP’s role in 3D printing in Africa, as well as the company’s influence in promoting the technology…

It is interesting to note there are ideas of integrating 3D printing with UN’s SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and that it can be a useful tool to enhance or drive them. This interview discusses one concept already taking shape in this regard. We talk to Tendai Pasipanodya, who takes us through the concept which her organization, Endeva, which is based in Berlin, Germany, is pursuing…

According to Gartner’s report, the two technologies that have made it to the final step of the Hype Cycle are mobile money (technology that allows accesses to online banking via cell phones) and 3D printing service bureaus.

“Africa is entering an important stage in growing maturity, with nine technologies entering the Slope of Enlightenment and climbing toward the Plateau of Productivity,” said William Hahn, principal research analyst at Gartner.

In terms of the use of 3D printing service…

We might think of 3D printing as a first world privilege that belongs in the Ivory Towers like Silicon Valley, Amsterdam and Munich. Nothing could be further from the truth and African nations should embrace this technology that really could change people’s lives.

Africa is a vast continent and the…

Anyone following the 3D Printing fever will likely have come across stories about 3D Printing possibilities for the developing world. There is no doubt that many in the maker community including economists, doctors and engineers, rave about how 3D printing specifically, and technology in general can help developing countries improve by overcoming structural handicaps like poor infrastructure and small industry capacity. By so doing, there will be acceleration in development and most importantly there will be upliftment of people out of poverty. However, there is a skeptical lot contending that there is lack of necessary skill base and entrepreneurial spirit when it comes to developing countries’ workforce in…

Global trade, the merchandise exports component of which was about US$15.5tn in 2016, according to World Trade Organisation (WTO) data, is expected to shrink by at least half over the next half century due to 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM). In tandem would be global value chains (GVCs), which were set to give African countries perhaps their last fighting chance at industrialisation. At $346bn in 2016, African merchandise exports were just 2% of the world total. And 32% of these were oil exports.

Still, African manufacturing…

I’ve noticed a common refrain in today’s news cycle: in order to remain viable in the global economy, countries need to get behind 3D printing, and fast. Africa, which has been experiencing an encouraging amount of growth across the continent, hasn’t seen much of a reduction in poverty and unemployment, unfortunately. This is likely due to the stagnation of the manufacturing sector, while the service sector expands…