Muumba

The challenge

There is a huge untapped potential of 3D printing medical equipment for low resource settings. 3D printing has become increasingly affordable over the years and is able to produce sterile medical equipment for a fraction of the conventional cost. Moreover, it can produce these supplies where they are needed, and when they are needed. However, current 3D printers are not designed for this context. They are usually too expensive, and are not able to deal with local challenges like frequent power outages and excessive dust. Moreover, most 3D printers on the market today are developed for prototyping purposes, and not for production.

The solution

The solution is Muumba, the first 3D printer for Africa. This 3D printer is designed to be easy to use for everyone, it can run off the grid for several hours, automatically ejects prints once they are finished, is protected against dust and high temperatures. And best of all: By using locally sourced e-waste, the printer can be produced for around €300.