Hosted by Dr Ntombi Mathe, CSIR Senior Researcher

This webinar will explore metal additive manufacturing for industrial application and its techno-economic benefits. In recent years, the South African manufacturing industry has faced a great decline in the demand for South African products both locally and globally, which has led to job losses and closure of factories. As one of the fourth industrial revolution technologies, additive manufacturing has seen increased interest in producing complex parts for the aerospace, mining, transport and other industries.

The CSIR has developed locally manufactured metal 3D printers with the aim of contributing towards the local manufacturing industry through access to technologies. However, these systems have only been used as research and development tools and it is important to develop models and systems that will allow for the full industrialisation of advanced manufacturing. In South Africa, 90% of the metal 3D printers are located at higher education institutions with only one company using advanced manufacturing as a stand-alone systems to print parts as needed.

Dr Ntombi Mathe, CSIR Senior Researcher (Host); Mr Jean-Pierre Serfontein, Senior Research and Development Engineer, Aerosud; Prof. Khumbulani Mpofu, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology; Ms Nontombi Marule, Director of Innovation and Technology Policy and Strategy, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition; Dr Silethelwe Chikosha, CSIR Senior Researcher