DUBAI- Paradigm 3D inaugurated its advanced $5.44 million (Dh20 million) 3D printing facility in Dubai on Thursday, marking the Middle East’s first facility capable of producing aerospace-specific parts in compliance with EASA Part 21G regulations.
Equipped with cutting-edge industrial 3D printers from NASDAQ-listed Stratasys Ltd., the facility will initially focus on manufacturing components for the aviation sector in the region.
Dubai 3D Printing for Aviation Parts
Spanning 10,750 square feet, the factory is located in the Jebel Ali Industrial Area and will have an initial production capacity of around 2,000 additively manufactured parts per year.
Over the next decade, it is expected to scale up to approximately 20,000 parts annually. The facility will primarily produce aircraft interior components, including seating, lavatories, electronic cooling ducts, environment control system ducting, wire guides, filter boxes, micro vanes, gaskets, component connectors, air intake manifolds, and more.
One of the key features of the manufacturing process at this facility is its simplicity, reliability, repeatability, and the ability to print engineering-grade thermoplastics with long intervals between maintenance and autonomous operations.
Notably, the event featured the presence of Scott Crump, Co-Founder of Stratasys, a globally recognized figure known as the pioneer of 3D printing technology, which is revolutionizing industries worldwide. Crump’s groundbreaking invention, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), has become synonymous with 3D printing itself.
World-renowned aircraft and cabin interior product manufacturers such as Boeing, Collins Aerospace, BAE Systems, Airbus, Diehl Aviation, and Safran Seats rely on Stratasys additive manufacturing systems.
Only 3D Supplier
Andreas Langfeld, President of Stratasys EMEA, emphasized that Paradigm 3D’s facility stands out as the only certified 3D printing service provider in the Middle East authorized to produce 3D-printed parts for both private and commercial aircraft.
This capability in Dubai is expected to significantly reduce lead times for replacement parts, potentially by weeks or even months, contributing to more predictable aircraft operations. This, in turn, will result in reduced operational costs, particularly in logistics, and a decreased environmental footprint linked to spare parts transportation.
Paradigm 3D has established partnerships with Stratasys’ long-standing Dubai-based partner, The Design to Manufacturing Company (theD2Mco), and the Latvia-based aerospace production firm AM Craft, which holds an EASA Production Organization Approval (POA).
The industrial 3D printers at the new facility were installed by theD2Mco, which will be responsible for ensuring 24/7 uptime and providing support.
AM Craft will play a pivotal role in Paradigm 3D’s journey by helping it become the inaugural qualified manufacturing facility located outside the European Union to receive its certification. Furthermore, AM Craft will provide support to Paradigm 3D in its pursuit of local production approval, granting the company the capability to offer regional manufacturing services to nearby airline operators.
Kyriakos Papantoniou, Group Executive Director at theD2Mco, expressed their commitment to collaborating with Paradigm 3D and Stratasys in alignment with the UAE government’s vision for its manufacturing sector, notably initiatives like Operation 300bn.
The use of Stratasys 3D printers for primary production applications distinguishes this facility from others in the region, enabling it to effectively address the requirements of clients in highly regulated industries such as aviation. The potential of this new facility extends beyond serving the UAE market to encompass the entire region.
CEO of AM Craft Insights
“Airlines operate on a global scale, and the Paradigm 3D facility will empower both local and international aerospace companies to reap the benefits of decentralized and on-demand manufacturing. We are assisting Paradigm 3D in their journey to become a comprehensive solution for designing, manufacturing, and post-processing certified aircraft components precisely when and where they are required for immediate installation on aircraft, representing the pinnacle of certification and technological advancements,” commented Janis Jatnieks, CEO of AM Craft.
With the anticipated success of the manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali serving airlines, Paradigm 3D aims to broaden its scope to encompass other industry sectors. “We view additive manufacturing as a fundamental driver for growth in the manufacturing sector within the region. The UAE’s enthusiasm for innovation and the government’s support for initiatives that leverage industrial 3D printing make the country an ideal hub for a genuine digital manufacturing revolution,” emphasized Mohamed Juma, co-founder and owner of Paradigm 3D.
“Demonstrating our capabilities in the highly regulated aviation sector will serve as validation for the numerous benefits of 3D printing, allowing us to expand into parallel industries such as oil & gas and other industrial applications.”
Image Curtosely to Its Creators
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