A Guide to 3D Printing Companies in the UAE
Whether you are a business owner who wants to prototype a new design or an individual who needs help bringing your creative ideas to life, 3D printing is a great solution. However, finding a reputable 3D printing service company can be difficult.
US-based construction 3D printer company AC3D says it can reduce the time needed to construct buildings by up to 1.5 times. It can also reduce the cost and be more sustainable.
1. 3DVinci Creations
Turning your designs into reality has never been easier with Z3D, Dubai’s first Emirati online 3D printing service. The company offers clients across the UAE emirates and the rest of the GCC easy access to professional-grade printing services, with a straightforward website and model upload process. The result is high-quality 3D prints that meet your exact needs.
The company offers high-quality 3D Printing and Prototyping services to design companies, R&D centers, Architects & Engineers across the GCC and MENA regions. It has a large manufacturing capacity and provides high-quality prototypes with a quick turnaround time.
The company manufactures a range of construction 3D printers to help meet the needs of a diverse range of clients. Its printers can be used for a wide range of applications, including structural elements, building components, and even complete buildings. AC3D’s printers also offer environmental benefits, as they eliminate waste and reduce human labor costs, which in turn lowers carbon footprints. The company’s construction printers can also be used to produce a variety of different materials, including concrete and metal.
2. Immensa Additive Manufacturing Centre
With a 10,000sqft bespoke facility, this company pioneers large-scale 3D printing in the UAE and worldwide. It has worked on projects including the construction of bamboo lattice work for Sunset Hospitality Group and Dubai’s most glamorous restaurant – Sushi Samba.
Immensa has expanded into Saudi Arabia, acquiring local companies Shakl3D and LayLabs in 2020 to set up the first private industrial-grade additive manufacturing centre in the kingdom. It also plans to launch a facility in Oman and reopen a smaller operation in the US.
The firm has partnered with construction companies to use 3D printed concrete in high-rise buildings. It claims the technology can speed up construction processes by up to four times while cutting costs.
It also has a digital warehouse project for RSA Global, which allows it to print spare parts on demand. The technology helps to reduce logistics and storage expenses while enabling faster lead times for clients. Immensa is backed by Venture Souq and Shorooq Partners, with the latter investing in the startup in 2021 to help it expand into international markets.
3. ACCIONA
ACCIONA first opened its Middle East office in Dubai in 2008 and it has since served as a hub and expansion platform from which the company carries out operations throughout the Gulf and Arab states. Through its Water and Construction business lines, ACCIONA has completed projects like the extension and modernization of both the Red and Green Lines of the Dubai Metro to Expo 2020 as well as one of the world’s largest reverse osmosis desalination plants in Fujairah with 136,000m3/day capacity.
The fight against climate change is a strategic priority for the company as it seeks to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions through various projects such as wind farms and thermosolar plants. Moreover, it is also investing in 3D printing technology to create structures that would otherwise be impossible using traditional methods.
ACCIONA is preparing for the future of mobility with its 100% EcoPowered car, the only electric vehicle to complete homologated rallies in five continents. This unique challenge will help to promote sustainability and raise awareness of the need to combat climate change.
4. 3Dhub Dubai
3D printing can create a wide variety of shapes and designs. But it’s important to understand the differences between the different types of materials used in the process. This can help you decide which material is best for your specific application.
3D printing can also save time by reducing the number of steps required to produce a product. This is especially useful in manufacturing, where the time saved can be put toward other tasks. In addition, it can reduce the amount of raw materials needed to make a product, which helps with environmental sustainability. While these benefits may seem small, they can add up over the course of a project. This is especially true when working with complex shapes or forms that would be difficult or impossible to construct through other means.
5. PrintStone 3D
Using their mobile construction printer, the Vienna-based company Printstones has made automated manufacturing on building sites more efficient. It prints both concrete and other cement materials that are used on site, making conventional formwork panels a thing of the past.
The printer is driven on its tire tracks and has a moving XYZ print head, so it can easily adapt to any building site. It is also capable of printing both a concrete and a cement/sand hybrid structure, meaning it can build large, complex structures that would be difficult or impossible with traditional methods.
Stone-filled 3D printing filaments use a composite PLA material mixed with powdered stone to give the prints an almost-real stone appearance. The stone particles make the filaments much denser than normal plastics, but it can still be printed using standard printers. When printing with stone-filled filaments, it’s important to use a hardened nozzle as the stones will clog a softer nozzle. They are also brittle and can snap easily, so it’s important to speed up the printing process. The Gate House project at the Tilal Al Furjan development is a testament to the capabilities of this technology, navigating many technical intricacies.
