17 Bachelor and Postgraduate students from the College of Engineering and Technology (COETEC) have completed a two-week training under the SUSTAIN AM (Additive Manufacturing) project on using bio-degradable material in additive manufacturing.
The training christened; 3rd SUSTAIN AM school which ran from September 5-16, 2022, aimed at equipping the students with essential skills in the utilization of locally available material using the most suitable AM technologies like Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF, paste printing and binder jetting.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Finance), Prof Bernard Ikua, congratulated the students for undergoing the two weeks programme challenging them to take the next step and utilize their new found knowledge in coming up with sustainable and environmentally friendly products.
“I implore you to practice what you have learnt. Research is a continuous process and an essential tool in addressing the various myriad challenges faced in our society,” Prof. Ikua said.
Prof. Ikua thanked the collaboration between the Department of Mechatronic Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and the Professorship of Additive Manufacturing, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (TUBAF) of Germany for making the training a reality.
Ag. Dean of School Mechanical, Manufacturing and Material Engineering, Dr. Kibini Karanja lauded the students for participating and showing interest in Additive Manufacturing as it is an exciting field. He further congratulated the training organizers for working tirelessly to ensure the training was a success.
Chairman, Department of Additive Manufacturing, TUBAF, Prof. Ing- Henning Zeidler thanked the participants for their effort and active participation in the training as well as the JKUAT staff for creating a conducive environment for the students thus making the training engaging and interesting.
He urged the students to be proactive and creative in coming up with unique and new designs that will revolutionize the engineering world.
“This training will impart the necessary teamwork and problem-solving skills which will be important for them once they are through with their studies,” Prof. Zedler observed.
He also stated that the project is set to continue for the next 2-3 years and as an institution, they are looking forward to more collaboration with JKUAT on matters expertise exchange and staff and students’ exchange.
On his part, the Project Coordinator, Dr. James Wamae thanked the students for participating and demonstrating interest throughout the project urging them to put more effort in the area of AM.
During the training, David Waititu, a third-year, Bachelors of Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering student said that the training has enabled him learn more about 3D Printing and other new technologies using biodegradable materials which are environmentally friendly.
The students were introduced to Technologies of AM, Preparation and Analysis of AM. They visited a tea factory in Kiambu where they got to see the new methods being used to process the product.
The conclusion of this project saw all the students who successfully concluded the training awarded certificates of participation.
Source: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology