From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has produced the first indigenous 3D printing machine to help control plastic waste pollution and encourage plastic waste reuse.
Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, UNN, Prof. Paul Akor, disclosed this in Nsukka yesterday during a sensitization workshop on the use and disposal of plastics organised by the department in collaboration with Pan African University Life and Earth Science Institute, Ibadan (PAULESI).
Tagged; “Supporting Hubs and External Community Engagement, Innovation for African Universities: Circular Plastic Economy,” sponsored by the British Council.
Akor said that the 3D printing machine was developed with local e-waste (electronic waste) which would in turn use filaments made from plastic waste, adding that it would offer a customizable material system that can be used to create both simple and complex materials.
His words: “We are glad to announce that UNN through the Department of Mechanical Engineering has produced the first indigenous 3D printing machine from local e-waste that will help to encourage plastics reuse, recycling, and substitution.
“3D printer is a machine that uses computer-aided design to create three-dimensional objects through a layering method.
“The 3D printer makes use of filaments, and filaments are made from plastic, so as we were working on the machine, a group of students came up and developed a machine that produces 3D filaments from used plastic, and the filaments can be used to produce any kind of material.
“Our sensitization campaign is to make people understand that plastic waste can be reused to produce other usable things in society as well as to change the public attitude and behaviour toward the use and disposal of plastics.”
The head of the department commended Mr. Chukwuemeka Anyaoha and Mr. Ndudim Ononiwu who are engineers in the department for their contributions to the development of the 3D printer.
He noted that Benstowe Fubara, Asogwa Chidera, and Attah Kingsley were the students who developed the 3D printer filament under the supervision of Prof. Godwin Unachukwu, Deputy Director, Institute of Climate Change Studies, Energy and Environment, UNN.
Speaking, Dr. Adedapo Adediji, a Research Officer at PAULESI domiciled at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, and a representative of the British Council to the workshop said that the event was to brainstorm with stakeholders, academics, and the mechanical engineering department, UNN on different options for plastic management.
“This programme is about how we can turn plastic waste into wealth, so the idea was trying to use plastics in a secular economy such that the waste in our environment will be used in more sustainable and productive ways.
“We took the plastic use and disposal sensitization campaign to some secondary schools within Nsukka town where we engaged the young ones. Our target is to catch them young with proper information on plastic waste management.