The industrial, construction and medical services sectors are most in demand

Officials: Lack of awareness, shortage of cadres, and high costs are the main challenges of "3D printing"

• 3D printing will have a major role in the future of many sectors, such as construction, medicine, and aviation.

  Photography: Ashok Verma

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Experts and officials specialized in the 3D printing sector stated that the industry is currently facing several challenges that hinder the spread and appropriate expansion of its use, pointing out that the most prominent of these obstacles are the lack of awareness of institutions of the importance of using these technologies, the lack of specialized cadres locally and regionally, and the high cost of use.

They indicated to "Emirates Today" that the industrial, construction and medical services sectors are the most in demand for these technologies, and that the UAE is currently considered a regional center for 3D printing technologies, with the support of the presence of a large number of local and international companies, and the rapid growth of demand for use annually compared to the countries of the region. Noting that the markets are expected to witness during the coming period a gradual growth in the use of these technologies, with the recent decline in the prices of raw materials and manufactured devices globally.

Diffusion challenges

In detail, Haider Al-Haidari, the project manager at MIT company, said, “The 3D printing sector faces several challenges that prevent the necessary proliferation, and the most prominent of these obstacles are the high cost of use compared to traditional methods, in addition to the lack of awareness among companies and investors of the benefits of using printing. Three dimensions, and the lack of expertise and specialized human cadres, which makes a large part of accreditation in the sector through international companies.

He added that «the high cost is expected to decline gradually during the coming period, with the technology used is still modern and takes time to reduce its cost, which indicates expectations of demand growth in greater proportions during the coming period, especially if private and public companies’ awareness of the benefits of using With these technologies », pointing out that the construction, engineering, industry and medical services sectors are among the sectors most in demand for these technologies at the present time.

Local companies

For his part, Executive Director of Emansa, Fahmi Al Shawa, said that “despite the fact that the UAE is leading the region in adopting the 3D printing sector, both in terms of the number of local and international companies present in the market or through the annual growth in the use of some printing technologies. , However, the field still faces several challenges that impede its expanded expansion, which are concentrated in the high cost and lack of awareness of its benefits, in addition to the lack of specialized cadres in the sector. ” .

Future Industries

In turn, the director of projects in the "Beyond 3D" company, Johnny Dela Cruz, said that "3D printing, despite being one of the areas of global competition today, being one of the main pillars of future industries, is still facing several challenges that hinder its proper spread in the country." And the region, including the lack of awareness and expert cadres in the field, ”pointing out that“ prices were one of the challenges, but recently it has witnessed signs of decline at the international level in the prices of raw materials and manufactured devices, indicating the possibility of overcoming this obstacle and increasing future demand for that industry. During the coming period, more ».

Benefits and potentials

He added that “the benefits of 3D printing are multiple and support the development of various industrial and technical sectors. For example, through 3D printing, it is now possible to form alternative peripheral devices, with greater professionalism and accuracy for individuals who suffer loss or amputation of their limbs for various reasons, and instead of the prevailing trend of using a piece One as a uniform prosthesis for a person, it has become possible to accurately tailor a piece that matches his size and length with different materials, in addition to that it can be more easily integrated with artificial intelligence techniques and linked to the body and brain sensors, making it more like natural.

Cruz explained, “3D printing supports innovation in all industries, and as soon as any piece is designed to be installed with devices, it is formed according to its engineering drawing, in addition to that it eliminates previous challenges by not having specific spare parts for cars with the possibility of forming them in any material through 3D printing devices. ».

He added that «the sectors most in demand for 3D printing technologies in the country and the region are the sectors of industry, medical services, engineering designs and constructions».

Global companies

The CEO of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Complex, Hussein Al Mahmoudi, said, “3D printing is an important future sector in which global companies compete to take the lead in it, as it is one of the basic industries on which the elements of the fourth industrial revolution are based. An exhibition for 3D printing in the region with its affiliated halls during the beginning of October and continues during the month of November. It includes the various sectors covered by that industry with the participation of a number of local and international companies. It is also concerned with providing the necessary ingredients for the development of this industry in cooperation with different companies.

He added that «the UAE is one of the first countries in adopting 3D printing techniques, which made many international companies prefer working in the country, especially with the presence of some gradual demand indicators compared to many countries in the region.

He pointed out that "the 3D printing industry is currently facing some challenges, including the lack of awareness among companies of the importance of using these technologies, which requires the existence of incentive policies to support their use more during the coming period."

He explained that "3D printing will have a major role in the future of many sectors, such as construction, medicine, aviation and others, as products are manufactured using 3D printing technology."

UAE aspirations

The CEO of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Complex, Hussein Al Mahmoudi, said that “3D printing keeps pace with the aspirations of the UAE in various sectors, including space, while providing the necessary capabilities for future industries,” noting that “the UAE has witnessed experiences of 3D printing in different sectors. The "complex" provides, through specialized companies, the possibility of three-dimensional printing of all materials, with the availability of more diverse devices and the availability of suitable laboratories that can be used to support the development of different products for that industry.

He pointed out that “the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Complex attracted, during the year 2019, international companies specializing in the construction of buildings using 3D printing technologies, as the first house was built with a heritage architecture based on these technologies.”

"We are working in the complex with our partners from all over the world, to transfer expertise in the field of 3D printing, which is expected to contribute to supplying the global economy with 300 billion dollars by 2025, which provides opportunities that await all those involved in advanced technology," he added.

The UAE is a regional hub for 3D printing technologies, supported by local and international companies and the rapid growth of demand.

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