CUT’s Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) was praised for hosting the 14^th annual conference in innovation, themed Additive Manufacturing (AM) – Improving Your World Layer-by-Layer from 29^th October to 1 November 2013.  

The conference presented opportunities for participants from industry, research and development institutions, academia and government to meet with world experts and explore new themes and ideas in a forum that was as inspirational as it was forward thinking.  Additive Manufacturing (AM), better known as ‘3D Printing’ is revolutionising the way organisations develop products, making it possible to print objects out of almost any material including titanium, sand, nylon, glass and even chocolate. 

One of the key speakers, Dr Terry Wohlers from Wohlers Associates in the USA, congratulated CUT on a very successful RAPDASA event. Dr Wohlers, is a CUT alumnus, as he holds an honorary doctorate in Mechanical Engineering at CUT.  In 2007, he was selected by more than 1 000 industry professionals from around the world as the most influential person in rapid product development and additive manufacturing.  “The conference was one of the best ever. Many of the presentations and content were excellent. As usual, CUT employees paid attention to all details and made everyone feel welcome,“ added Dr Wohlers. The CRPM hosted the conference because it forms an integral part of the ideology and goals for this centre,” said Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, “The conference offers an opportunity for CRPM to forge new relationships, learn new techniques and highlight our country’s abilities within the AM arena. It also offered a chance for the South African Additive Manufacturing community to showcase the cutting-edge work that is being carried out and designed in the country. 

The conference attracted participants from Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Norway, Poland and US, and the calibre of both attendees and keynote speakers were superb.  For many, the conference represented an opportunity to interact with colleagues and to forge new alliances and look to new ways of driving change within the industry itself. Professor Doctor Jules Poukens, a cranio-maxillofacial surgeon at the Medical Centre Sittard/Heerlen in the Netherlands was amongst the keynote speakers.   He dedicated a large part of his presentation to medical applications and believed that innovation and advanced technology could bring great benefits to people.  “This conference is providing me with a chance to really examine medical applications within this arena alongside other experts who share my passion for the field” he added. At the forefront of research and innovation, CUT was one of three universities to beat 406 applications for a research chair at the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), and was awarded funding for the next five years in the field of Medical Product Development through Additive Manufacturing. 

From left: Dr Terry Wohlers, Principal Consultant and President Wohlers Associates, Colorado, USA; Prof. Laetus Lategan, CUT Dean: Research and Innovation; Mr Garth Williams, Director: Advanced Manufacturing Technologies in the Department of Science and Technology; Mr Montwedi Seane, CUT Trust CEO;  Prof. Henk de Jager, CUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic;  Dr Kevin Slattery, senior principal engineer at Boeing Phantom Works and Mr Gerrie Booysen, CUT and CRPM Director at the RAPDASA Conference held at Clarence, Free State Province.  Cover image: Staff member explain how the multi-million rand 3D printer works to guest at the launch of the new CRPM facilities in 2012.