3D printing is a superb match for smaller operators. Shutterstock
Hundreds of years in the past, the blacksmith led a technological leap in sub-Saharan Africa. West Africa’s Nok tradition, for instance, switched from utilizing stone instruments to iron round 1500BC. Think about an revolutionary artisan like this re-emerging within the twenty first century outfitted with digital applied sciences.
This isn’t Wakanda science fiction. It’s the story of an actual promise that 3D printing holds for an industrial revolution on the African continent.
3D printing, often known as additive manufacturing, is a fabrication course of by which a three-dimensional object is constructed (printed) by including layer upon layer of supplies to a collection of shapes. The fabric could be metallic, alloys, plastics or concrete. The market measurement of 3D printing was valued at US$13.78 billion in 2020, and is predicted to develop at an annual fee of 21% to a price of US$62.79 billion in 2028.
Not solely is it a distinct approach of bodily making objects, 3D printing additionally modifications the image of who can take part in business – and succeed.
3D printing is a superb match for smaller operators as a result of it doesn’t require big capital funding. It’s also the perfect match for “newcomers” whereas established operators are locked within the previous manufacturing technique. The brand new expertise is a good alternative for growing nations to leapfrog over developed nations.
In a current paper, we reviewed the evolution of 3D printing applied sciences, their disruptive impression on conventional provide chains and the worldwide enlargement of the 3D printing market.
We present that situations within the African context are beneficial for technological leapfrogging, and suggest that universities, industries and authorities can work collectively to assist this, giving small and medium enterprises a key position.
We illustrate our argument utilizing South Africa and Kenya as examples.
Technological leapfrogging
Technological leapfrogging is expounded to expertise lock-in.
Lock-in occurs when a longtime expertise continues to dominate the market even after the arrival of a brand new and superior expertise. The older expertise stays profitable not as a result of it’s higher however as a result of it bought some great benefits of an early lead out there.
In developed nations, the place the older expertise has taken maintain, it’s troublesome for brand new, radical applied sciences to get a begin. An excessive amount of has already been invested within the previous methods.
But it surely’s completely different in growing nations. Much less has been invested in older applied sciences. And virtually everyone seems to be ranging from the identical level; the the mobile phone is an instance.
For a very long time, the African continent has lagged behind the remainder of the world in manufacturing. A current report signifies that whereas Africa is dwelling to 17% of the world’s inhabitants, it accounts for less than 2% of worldwide manufacturing worth added. 3D printing presents a possibility to revive this sector by means of technological leapfrogging.
African nations meet the 4 key situations highlighted by students for technological leapfrogging:
There should be a big distinction between the wage prices of the main nation and potential challengers.
The brand new expertise should seem initially unproductive and fewer worthwhile relative to the previous.
Expertise within the previous expertise should be much less helpful and fewer transferable to the brand new expertise.
The brand new expertise should, in the long term, enhance productiveness and effectivity.
To take the primary situation, the wage value of a median African nation is a small fraction of the wage value in a developed nation. For instance, in keeping with the newest estimates, the common annual revenue in Nigeria is US$2,000, in contrast with US$64,530 for the USA.
3D printing is initially unproductive due to decrease preliminary charges of adoption. This implies a smaller market and restricted revenue alternatives.
Trying on the third situation, 3D printing will not be an incremental enchancment on what went earlier than, so expertise within the previous expertise doesn’t depend for a lot.
On the fourth situation, one of many strongest arguments for 3D printing is that it flips the dominant logic of conventional manufacturing: scale economies. Large multinational manufacturing firms make investments closely in equipment, logistics and different materials and human sources for mass manufacturing. They make massive income provided that they promote sufficient models. The extra they promote, the larger their revenue margins.
3D printing doesn’t want centralised high-volume manufacturing and enormous stock stocking. All of the sudden, it pays to provide fewer models. There isn’t a want for heavy funding in manufacturing vegetation, as a result of 3D printers are available in numerous smaller sizes and at decrease prices. There’s now a rising marketplace for finances and do-it-yourself 3D printers that value lower than US$200.
Smaller and extra sustainable
All this shifts the benefit in favour of micro, small, and medium scale enterprises.
Firstly, it provides higher reward for creativity and ingenuity. Just like the African blacksmith of yore, additive producers can design customised, increased worth merchandise in response to particular calls for and necessities.
The proximity of 3D printing retailers to prospects is one other benefit because it reduces logistics prices and provide chain challenges.
Sustainability is one other profit: the method produces solely what is required. It will possibly reuse waste materials.
Micro and small-scale 3D printing retailers can provide work and revenue alternatives for households.
College, business and authorities
Our examine proposes a approach for the college, business and authorities sectors on the African continent to work collectively to harness the alternatives supplied by 3D printing. These domains – producing data, producing items and regulating financial relations – have tended to be disconnected. As an alternative, we argue that higher integration can encourage innovation.
We give examples from South Africa and Kenya as an example the challenges and alternatives.
In South Africa, universities are main the drive to offer coaching and retraining programmes for engineers, technologists and different professionals concerned in 3D printing. Rather more must be executed to develop new curricula, analysis and programmes in additive manufacturing.
Kenyan universities are at an earlier stage, specializing in convening networking and data trade occasions.
Within the authorities sector, South Africa has essentially the most detailed coverage doc of any African nation on 3D printing. The nation’s 3D printing technique is being led by means of the Ministry of Science and Expertise, and thru businesses such because the Council for Scientific and Industrial Analysis and Expertise Innovation Company. Within the business sector, South Africa’s Speedy Product Improvement Affiliation works intently with the federal government to organise conferences, workshops and neighborhood engagement actions.
The outcomes thus far
The South African 3D printing business has had appreciable success in recent times, pushed by a rising neighborhood of lovers and designers.
Small enterprises and startups are making inroads in areas akin to 3D printing of mobile phone equipment, automobile equipment, and jewelry. In 2014, South African docs used 3D-printed titanium bones to carry out a jaw-bone transplant surgical procedure, the second on the planet. There are additionally current functions of 3D printing in housing.
The three spheres must do extra work in analysis funding, coverage interventions and strategic public procurement. And they should cross boundaries. Universities can commercialise and contribute to insurance policies. Business can spend money on analysis and affect insurance policies. Governments can play out there and in data manufacturing.
Seun Kolade doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that might profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their tutorial appointment.
