‘ A new model for community business - How 3D printing is
contributing to social innovation’
William Hoyletechfortrade
About techfortrade
• UK registered charity, established in 2011
• Supporting innovation in emerging communication technologies to facilitate trade and alleviate poverty for the world’s poorest communities.
• Other initiatives include
http://mfarm.co.ke
“Hi Phil, just been reading about 3D Printing in the Economist – sounds amazing”
“I was wondering, what do you think 3D Printing could do for the developing world?”
September 21st 2011
Its all about High Value & Low VolumeIts all about digital data, 3D CAD, CT & MRIIts all about personalisation and consumer trendsIts all about product efficiency and light weightIts all about sustainable supply chainsIts all about web integration and co-creationIts about stockless supply chains and distributed manufacturing
…….. Blah, blah, blah
“…. Let me tell you about AM/3DP”
But the developing world?
It’s all about the BOP (base of the pyramid)
2.6 billion under $3k/year = $7 trillion 1.4 billion at $3k - $20k = $18.5 trillion
= $25.5 trillion
A market with unique characteristics
And so……. - The 3D4D Challenge was born
Simple principle
Give people a mechanism to apply from anywhereShort list the best 5 or 6
ideas
Raise awareness of 3DP in developing markets
Assign the best proposals mentors and $1,500
Bring the finalist together to hone their skills
Let the finalists pitch to a panel of experts
1
2
3
4
5
6
+ $100,000.00 to test the business case!
7
253 charities, NGO’s, students & entrepreneurs
Romania Kenya
USA South Africa
Facilitated idea generation process Spare Parts Water / Irrigation Personalisation
Bits & Bobs Power Healthcare
Education / skills
Dr Kamau Gachigi
Recycling waste into fair trade feed stock100 Kg of sorted plastic waste = $1.001Kg of ABS filament = $25.00Up lift ratio = 2,500 : 1
Hydroponics, Irrigation & connectors
Condom machines – broken mechanisms
Boris Kogan (Israel) – small scale easy to manufacture 3D Printed robotic greenhouse to increase food productionWOOF (USA) – Enabling waste plastic to be reprocessed and manufactured on large scale 3DP machines into products required in day to day sanitation (3DP toilet )EN3D Project (Canada) – 3D Printed solar tracker to increase efficiency of sustainable energy generationFripp Design & Research (UK) – 3D Printing of soft tissue prosthesis (noses, ears) for congenital and trauma patientsJust 3D Print (India) – Recycling of waste materials into economically and sustainable feedstock for 3D Printing community workersRoy Ombatti (Kenya) – 3D Printed patient specific footwear for sufferers of Jigger Fly infestationColalight (UK) – Community assembled cola bottle based solar lamp with parts made using 3D Printing
The short list
Washington Open Object Fabricators (Woof)
Why did they win?• WOOF’s technology creates new
areas of employment by enabling waste plastic to be utilized as material for product creation
• The project team are working with Water for Humans (WFH)
• Address local issues in water and sanitation in Oaxaca, Mexico
Our other finalists continue tomake progress!
six months later
Just 3D Printing
Haiti Communitere - Port au Prince
We’re finding new collaborators
New initiatives are emerging daily!
Joshua Pearce, Associate Professor in the Dep’t of Materials Science & Engineering, and in the Dep’t of Electrical & Computer Engineering, at Michigan Technological University:
‘One of our other major projects is building an open source RecycleBot, which can turn waste plastic into 3D filament ink. This has the potential to make it easier for waste pickers in developing nations to recycle plastic into high-value items for sale or simply to provide for their own needs. The use of a sustainable energy source and recycled filament not only holds the potential to help impoverished people but also improves the ecological performance of 3D printing.’
‘Our goal is for people to literally “print themselves out of poverty” no matter where they live’
The potential for BOP markets…
Challenges and opportunities
Building and sharing the product library Affordability and access to equipment Filament recycling Off-grid printing Sharing business models
working together as a new community!
We’re determined to build on our learning
Follow us on Twitter at #3d4dchallenge