Personalising manufacturing for South African solutions

The Fab Lab programme is an initiative that started at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. Using the MIT Fab Lab model as baseline, the first South African lab was established at The Innovation Hub in June 2005. "Fab Lab" is an abbreviation for Fabrication Laboratory - a group of off-the-shelf, industrial-grade fabrication and electronic tools, wrapped in open source software and programmes, written by researchers at MIT's Centre for Bits and Atoms.

The idea around Fab Labs is to give users around the world the ability to conceptualise, design, develop, fabricate and test almost anything - giving rise to the concept of 'personal fabrication', as envisioned by Fab Lab originator and MIT scientist, Prof Neil Gershenfeld. These hands-on laboratories are equipped with advanced equipment and enable one to create just about anything from inexpensive and readily available materials.

When the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS) Implementation Unit realised the benefits that FabLabs could add to South Africa, they decided to bring the concept here to be housed at the Hub and operated by the CSIR. Following the models of FabLabs all around the world, AMTS plans to also establish labs in the community centres of underprivileged areas.

According to FabLab manager at The Innovation Hub, Naas Zaayman, FabLabs are "moving away from the methodology of having a science, engineering and maths background as the base upon which innovations are built and instead, learning only what is necessary to make your product". This means that the labs will also become a training institution that will teach students, innovators entrepreneurs and business people how to use the tools to create whatever they want.

According to Zaayman, the Hub is the perfect place for the first South African FabLab to be located. "The Innovation Hub is a place where people are always trying out new things and the whole idea of FabLab is to try out new things as well. Being surrounded by all these innovators and entrepreneurs fit in very well with that".

He also adds that this location presents a huge networking and marketing opportunity for the FabLab. "We have already been talking to our Hub neighbour, Business Worx, about manufacturing of their rubber stamps using the FabLab's MODELLA MILL. We are very excited about being here", he said.

As a pilot plant for the FabLab concept in South Africa, Zaayman is also excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for his lab. FabLab will be involved in the South African Breweries' Kickstart program and the Tshwane Smart Learning Network, and will be building relationships with universities, such as TUT and University of Pretoria.

Zaayman sees the FabLab as being well on its way to giving effect to its vision of bringing practical technology solutions closer to the people. According to him, the fact that the innovations are fostered by local communities themselves will almost certainly give rise to sustainable solutions. "Our goal is to facilitate South African specific solutions for South African specific problems", he concluded.

For more information on the FabLab, contact Naas Zaayman on +27 12 844 0325.

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