Ready for 3D: Dubai Holding launches International Centre for 3D Printing

Dubai - 'Dubai 3D Printing Strategy' to focus on construction, medical products and consumer products; aims to make emirate hub

As a first step towards executing Dubai's 3D printing strategy, Dubai Holding has launched the International Centre for 3D Printing at Dubai Industrial City.
The centre will host more than 700 local and international companies to make Dubai a major hub of 3D printing technology.
Last week, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the "Dubai 3D Printing Strategy" that will focus on three major sectors: construction, medical products and consumer products.
The strategy is particularly relevant to the construction sector considering that the strategy aims to 3D print 25 per cent of buildings in Dubai by 2030. This will create a huge demand in the market and offer large investment opportunities for companies and investors locally, regionally and globally.
Located at Dubai Industrial City, the International Centre for 3D Printing will create a suitable atmosphere and provide the appropriate infrastructure to bring under one roof a network of design and technology suppliers as well as factories.
It will include research centres and laboratories for testing materials used in 3D-printed products within an integrated environment dedicated to serve construction, medicine, and consumer products sectors. It will also involve the academic sector, which will add innovation and educational value to this initiative through research and development.
The new project aims to build a network of distinguished companies in the 3D printing sector by attracting entrepreneurs and innovators as well as targeting international enterprises locally and globally by offering special laboratories for 3D printing. It will also offer services, professional training, facilities, storage solution and other logistical support to strengthen this sector.
Dr Amina Al Rustamani, group chief executive officer of Tecom Investments, said: "The world is experiencing significant demand for 3D printing technologies which are set to play an important role in developing basic industries such as real estate."
3D printing is still in its infancy, but it's starting to show signs that it might revolutionise the way products are being manufactured at the moment. The creation of a 3D-printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the entire object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object.
Not all 3D printers use the same technology. There are several ways to print and all those available are additive, differing mainly in the way layers are build to create the final object.
The cost of a 3D printer depends on whether it's a consumer, budget or industrial model. All of the consumer models cost less than $4,000, while the printers on budget 3D printer lineup cost less than $1,000. The majority of industrial 3D printers exceed $50,000 in price.

"We will work on providing a suitable environment for specialised companies and attracting innovative minds by offering the required infrastructure that match the aspirations of the wise leadership. We believe that the new strategy will be a vital element in creating support for Dubai's key role in the area of 3D printing," Al Rustamani added.
The recent report of Strategy&, a global research institution, showed that 3D printing is at the forefront global industry trends in 2016 and will play a major role in reducing the manufacturing cost and time in construction sector.
Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said: "The centre focuses on providing all the components in an integrated system to take this technology from the ideas and innovation stage to the design phase, and provide the materials to a promising market within the, construction, medical and consumer product sectors."

Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Industrial City, said: "The next phase of the International Centre for 3D Printing is to translate the vision of our wise leadership in the 3D printing domain by providing the latest technology and the best solutions in the industry to meet the requirements of local and international companies in this sector. The centre will offer the advantages of strategic location, advanced infrastructure, developed offices, warehouses and exhibition facilities, not to mention the integrated support system that will enable companies to establish their business."
Last October, Dubai-based Jacky's Business Solutions showcased its most sophisticated and innovative technologies from leading 3D manufacturers and IT vendors at Gitex Technology Week.
The Dubai company displayed BigRep, the largest 3D printer in the world that can print from human-scale robot parts to full-dimensional sculptural artworks such as chairs and tables.
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com