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Two FabLabs were launched in two provinces recently. The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, launched the fifth FabLab in Potchefstroom and the sixth one in Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
The launch of the FabLabs marks a further realisation of the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) goal of providing science, engineering and technology platforms for social development, while benefiting private sector competitiveness and growth.
This is achieved by bringing advanced manufacturing technology platforms to ordinary people as an accessible platform to empower themselves by personally participating in an environment that enables the freedom to experiment and peer-to-peer learning. The platforms also provide the means to solve local problems innovatively and stimulate creativity that should lead to techno-preneurship options.
The DST enables the roll-out of the FabLabs nationally through the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS) implementation unit, which is hosted by the CSIR. The AMTS has entered into a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute for Technology's (MIT) Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) to establish FabLabs in South Africa.
The four FabLabs that are already operational throughout South Africa are situated at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, in Soshanguve (north of Pretoria), Cape Town and Bloemfontein. A total of 10 FabLabs will eventually be established in South Africa.
FabLab is an abbreviation for 'fabrication laboratory'. It offers a group of off-the-shelf, industrial-grade fabrication and electronics tools, using open source software and dedicated programs to allow users to build just about anything from inexpensive and readily available materials. The goal of the FabLab concept is to help people use advanced information technologies to develop and produce solutions for local problems.
According to national manager of the AMTS FabLabs, Letlotlo Phohole, the FabLabs focus on manufacturing of the total product, which differentiates them from other rapid product development facilities. This includes design, fabrication, testing and debugging, monitoring and analysis, and documentation of the process. The process is then shared with users at other FabLabs around the world. "FabLabs want to encourage local entrepreneurs to take their own ideas from the drawing board to prototypes, all the way to starting local micro businesses," he says. Critical skills in computing, electronics, programming and CAD/CAM fabrication techniques - which are internationally recognised - are also taught.
The FabLab concept was first introduced by MIT. Today it is fast gaining popularity around the globe and has already been established successfully in places as diverse as rural India, inner-city Boston, Ghana and Norway. The DST, through the AMTS, is playing a leading role in South Africa to implement the FabLab concept and customise it for maximum local benefit.
The Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University that hosts the fifth AMTS FabLab, will seek to identify and address localised challenges within the community. The CSIR's manufacturing science and technology areas will be closely involved with the development of the FabLab. Areas include the development of digital/micro-manufacturing techniques; affordable, flexible and intelligent automation systems; and advanced robotics and intelligent autonomous systems - areas that can be of benefit to local communities. The AMTS FabLab in North West is strategically positioned next to a science centre, which is another DST initiative, while North-West University has strong links with the local manufacturing industry.
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