South Africa: CSIR Produces Stainless-Steel Powder for 3D Printing

South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has successfully produced 316L stainless-steel powder using a newly commissioned ultrasonic atomizer machine.

Co-funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) – an entity of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) – the facility marks a major step toward reducing the country’s reliance on imported metal powders for additive manufacturing (AM).

“Our aim has been to create a sustainable local supply of high-quality stainless-steel power, which currently has significant demand in the additive manufacturing space,” stated Dr. Miemie Maminza, Research Group Lead, CSIR.

The machine, capable of producing both reactive and nonreactive metals, enables the CSIR to manufacture high-quality powders suited for powder bed fusion techniques.

The CSIR has ensured that the powders meet critical parameters for AM, including flowability, particle size and packing density. What’s more, prototype tools printed using the locally producer powder demonstrate industrial viability.

The initiative aligns with the DSTI’s broader economic agenda to localize manufacturing, support local businesses and strengthen South Africa’s AM value chain – addressing both downstream postprocessing needs like surface heat treatment and upstream goals such as sustainable feedstock development and circular design.

“By manufacturing our own metal powders and developing printers, we are fostering an ecosystem where innovation breeds economic empowerment; advancing in technology, supporting local businesses and creating job opportunities,” stated Dr. Ntombi Mathe, Principal Researcher, CSIR.