Afate Gnikou is a Togolese inventor who created his own impressive 3D printer entirely from a collection of electronic waste gathered from landfills. Since he became interested in the possibilities of 3D printing, Gnikou has been on a mission to bring awareness to the large amounts of electronic waste that end up in landfills across Togo, Nigeria and Ghana.
Now, Gnikou is hoping to make it both affordable and accessible for the people living with disabilities in his own community to create custom prostheses as an alternative to standard one-size-fits-all medical prostheses.
3D printing technology has given people around the world the tools to tap into their inner makers, but it has also inspired many others to try their hand at making their own additive manufacturing system from scratch.
Waste-Made 3D Printers
This 3D Printer is Made Entirely from Repurposed Electronic Waste
Trend Themes
1. Repurposed Electronic Waste - Opportunity to create innovative and sustainable products by repurposing electronic waste for 3D printing.
2. Accessible Custom Prostheses - Disruptive innovation opportunity to provide affordable and personalized prostheses using 3D printing technology.
3. DIY Additive Manufacturing - Potential for individuals to build their own 3D printers from scratch, fostering a culture of DIY additive manufacturing.
Industry Implications
1. Sustainability - Sustainable manufacturing practices and eco-friendly products using repurposed electronic waste for 3D printing.
2. Medical Devices - Opportunity to disrupt the standard medical prostheses industry by offering affordable and custom-made prostheses through 3D printing.
3. Consumer Electronics - Potential for DIY enthusiasts to create their own 3D printers, shaping the consumer electronics industry.