The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) specialises in Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, and was established in 1997 as a centre for both commercial work and research. The CRPM’s focus on AM has led to the university developing rich relationships with organisations across South Africa including the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). These relationships have seen the university and the department steadily grow into their goals of creating solutions that drive socio-economic change and support technological innovation.
“3D printing is set to play a fundamental role in the new industrial revolution and we are making sure that we are right on the cutting-edge of development through dynamic partnerships,” says Professor Alfred Ngowi, Dean of Engineering and Information Technology. “One such partnership is with the DST which is about stimulating and intensifying innovation so as to improve economic growth and the quality of life for all. We also work closely with the NRF to ensure consistent development and training opportunities.”
NRF and the Department have demonstrated consistent and on-going support for the research agenda within academic institutions through the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChi). The goal of this initiative is to increase the research output and innovation from South Africans in areas that are considered essential to the country’s strategic growth and development.
CUT has equally been committed to these goals, driving the creation of new and insightful methodologies within the AM space for many years. The CRPM is engaged with the overarching strategies as outlined by DST and NRF and this has led to rich and dynamic partnerships.
“Our Vision 2020 goals clearly state that CUT, as an engaged institution, is focused on producing social and technological developments that really deliver results, especially within the central region of South Africa,” says Professor Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at CUT. “We educate by example, lead in social and technological innovations and research and invest in the future. Many of our projects are already yielding impressive returns and we are focused on maintaining this momentum going forward, and we are looking forward to five years of collaborative excellence and development in providing both staff and students with exceptional tools with which they can maintain their lead at the cutting edge of research into 3D printing technology”.
Certainly being selected as host of the Research Chair in Medical Product Development through Additive Manufacturing is a signature honour and one that is a direct result of the impressive alliances with DST and NRF. The Chair will allow CUT to really drive growth, playing a vital role in the industry through insight, development and research.
The collaborative nature of the relationship with DST and NRF has allowed CUT to focus on its deliverables and capabilities. The university is investing in AM as a niche area that allows them to embed innovation and entrepreneurship into teaching and all aspects of the educational experience.
The university is incredibly proud of being chosen as the host of the Chair as it is an important part of what CUT stands for and the inroads it has made into AM as a whole, and in South Africa. Through this Chair, CUT will be able to further develop its relationships with leading organisations such as NRF and DST and play a fundamental role in ensuring that South Africa sits at the forefront of innovation in AM.
The SARChi Research Chair will ensure that CUT can continue to provide its partners with exceptional tools and solutions to maintain their lead in 3D printing technology and bring about social and technological innovations in the country as a whole.
“The Research Chairs are tenable at universities and research agencies that are deemed to be leaders in selected fields,” says Prof Mthembu. “It is a highly competitive initiative that has all South African universities and research agencies vying for the chance to take part. The hosting of this Research Chair by CUT is another achievement to add to our growing list and, over the next five years, we will create new platforms through AM and advance new ideas through this technology.”
Through this research chair and its partnerships with leading organisations such as the DST and NRF, CUT is set to bring about innovation and transformation to the AM sector. The university is focused on bettering the lives of others through technology and this Research Chair is going to go a long way to supporting this goal.
Partners in perfection
The Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, is the leading higher education institution in the heartland of South Africa. Located in Bloemfontein and Welkom, the two campuses bring quality education and training in science, technology, engineering and maths alongside management sciences, humanities and education to the central region.
“In the last decade, we have increased our enrolment from 10 300 to 14 340 students in 2014. About 43.9% of our students are enrolled in our priority area of Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics – a claim very few universities in this country can publicly make,” said Professor Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at CUT. The university seeks to increase its student intake in this priority area, which South Africa has placed on the critical skills shortage list for many years now.
Today the institution has more than 14 000 students and has an impressive track record when it comes to innovation, development and building lasting relationships.
The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) at CUT that specialises in Additive Manufacturing (AM) recently formed an alliance with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) that was established in terms of the TIA Act 2008. The goal of this agency is to stimulate and intensify technological innovation in order to improve economic growth and the quality of life for all South Africans and the core business objective is to support the development and commercialisation of competitive technology-based services and products.
Product development
Another notch on the CUT belt is the relationship between the Integrated Product Development Team (IPD) and the Titanium Centre of Competence (TiCoC). The latter integrates and co-ordinates the development of the technology building blocks of the industry and is one of only a few institutions in the world that can directly laser sinter titanium, or any other bio-compatible material, for Medical Product Development. Without the CRPMs intervention and this rich alliance, complex product development initiatives as well as models and implants for surgeries would have been almost impossible.
The CRPM’s research team was also accepted as a full member of the Medical Research Council Medical Device Innovation Platform and we are the only University of Technology to be formally represented alongside five other traditional universities.
For CUT, relationships are key to unlocking new and exciting opportunities for the university, its students and the CRPM. Each year the institution works towards new strategic partnerships that will allow for further growth and development that have the potential to change lives.