Akhani 3D lets forward-thinking manufacturing businesses 'Make Possible'


Johannesburg, 17 Sep 2019
The EOS-M290 can create metal 3D printed products with complex geometries including elements such as freeform surfaces, deep slots and/or coolant ducts.
The EOS-M290 can create metal 3D printed products with complex geometries including elements such as freeform surfaces, deep slots and/or coolant ducts.

Additive manufacturing (AM, also known as 3D printing) machines are getting faster, design tools smarter and the portfolios of materials and finishes ever more suited to industrial applications. AM is no longer a trend on its way into the mainstream, it’s a serious global business. With new innovations reaching the market constantly, it’s a challenging world to navigate.

Additive manufacturing has side-stepped age-old design, tooling and production problems more effortlessly than anyone a decade ago thought imaginable. The ability to consider a component holistically and design specifically to purpose is changing the nature of the $12 trillion manufacturing sector, shortening supply chains, spearheading innovation and significantly reducing time to market.

The promise of full serial production is drawing ever closer, with the industry driven towards the holy grail of delivering high volumes of reliable product at lower costs than traditional processes.

The industry conference formnext, held every year in Frankfurt, grew 25% between 2017 and 2018, and this year will grow a further 64%, encompassing 58 000 square metres across multiple venues. A notable shift for this year’s event is the increased investment some of the world’s largest companies are making, with GE, HP, BASF and Siemens all vying for position.

As technologies have advanced, components have moved beyond the arena of R&D and on to the production line. Consider the aerospace industry. Subject to some of the world’s most stringent performance standards, the ability to develop high-performance, lightweight components individually has had far-ranging implications in both commercial and military applications. With the rise of additive manufacturing, Boeing has completely overhauled its engineering model, developing a new design approach that considers every mechanical element individually, managed by a single design engineer.

A similar revolution is currently under way in the medical field, where high tensile, flexible and biocompatible substrates are transforming surgical implants, dentistry, prosthetics and countless other applications.

Turnkey AM production

Akhani 3D is the largest commercial additive manufacturing service bureau in southern Africa. A newly established venture from Rapid 3D and Kemtek, Akhani 3D was created to meet the rising demand from within the manufacturing sector for a turnkey AM production service that translates ideas into objects as efficiently as possible.

Leveraging 15 years' experience in the industry, Akhani 3D’s expert team provides traditional manufacturers with access to industry-leading additive manufacturing production processes that deliver a clear competitive advantage.

“Rapid 3D launched when 3D printing was in its infancy, not just in South Africa, but globally. It’s an industry that has progressed at a staggering rate, and through the years we’ve filtered out the noise to pinpoint the processes that deliver real value,” states managing director, David Bullock.

Akhani is taken from the Zulu word meaning ‘to make’. Under the vision of ‘Make Possible’, the goal at Akhani 3D is to unlock value through product innovation.

“Akhani 3D has been established for two reasons. The first is the growing demand among our clients for cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that speed up their research and development workflows. The second is recognising that the AM industry has reached a level of maturity where the costs, quality and time factors have converged to make scaling production feasible,” stated Pauline Bullock, Akhani 3D’s Director of Operations.

Recently added to the arsenal is the EOS M290, the industry benchmark in the industrial 3D printing of metal parts. Ideal for manufacturing highly complex DMLS components from aluminium and steel in a range of quality grades, the investment has unlocked new possibilities for Akhani 3D’s clients.

Hailing from far-ranging industries and disciplines from mining to mountain bikes, Akhani 3D’s clients include Pyga, which builds a world-renowned range of bespoke trail bikes. Akhani 3D has played an instrumental role in honing the design of Pyga's premier Slakline enduro bike, reducing its weight while building frame strength and durability.

For Raptor Rescue, Akhani 3D built solar-powered GPS units to track and monitor birds of prey, providing the team with the ability to quickly respond to poisoning sites to save critically endangered vulture species.

Akhani 3D is serious about additive manufacturing. We partner with companies that see the power in harnessing new technology to deliver competitive advantage. We’re driven by our purpose: to make your ideas possible.

Akhani 3D is an additive manufacturing (3D printing) and finishing bureau located in the KZN Midlands. A comprehensive, professional production and industrial 3D printing and finishing service for manufacturers, Akhani 3D combines experience, insight and the cutting-edge in additive manufacturing hardware, aimed at letting you Make Possible.    

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Editorial contacts

Karen Stretch
Marketing Manager
(011) 624 8092
karens@kemtek.co.za