RAMMforIU - Renewable Additive Manufacturing Mmaterials
for Industrial Usage
The RAMMforIU project promotes the industrial use of additive manufacturing (AM) with bio-based residues and closes the last gaps in research. The aim is to establish a sustainable circular economy in Kenya that incorporates waste materials from agriculture and production. This supports local economic stability and growth.
As part of the research, material data sheets are being created for selected residual materials, which contain important information on properties, costs, availability, environmental impact and recycling. The suitability of these materials for various AM technologies is being investigated in order to find optimal process-material combinations.
A demo use case is being developed together with industrial partners to demonstrate the potential of the technologies and materials. To promote start-ups in Kenya, measures such as legal advice, workshops and training are offered to support founders. In particular, scientific staff at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) are to be empowered to utilise the research results commercially and serve as role models for future spin-offs.
Research priorities
- Organizing workshops on topics including opportunities for developing business models based on research findings
- Developing material data sheets that provide information on the processing and application of AM-compatible residual materials
- Developing design guidelines
- Developing business models for the use of AM with bio-based materials in Kenya
Project duration
07/2025 - 06/2027
Project partners
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya
Funding information
The programme is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Aerospace (BMFTR)
Main contact:
Dipl.-Ing. Leif Bretschneider
+49 3731 39 3735
leif [dot] bretschneider [at] imkf [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de
Research team:
Dipl.-Ing. Leif Bretschneider
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Henning Zeidler
Work packages
AP 0 - Management
Management of the overall project, including funding, partnerships and timely delivery of results
.
WP 1 - Technology
Feasibility study of AM technologies in terms of market requirements, potential, and product design, including cost assessment for the Kenyan market.
WP 2 - Material
Evaluation and selection of bio-based materials, analysis of costs, material properties, and environmental impact for optimal product processing.
WP 3 - Utilisation
Development of a marketable product, taking into account socioeconomic conditions, market analyses, and intellectual property.
W P4 - Education
Training opportunities and educational initiatives to promote capacity building and lifelong learning, including face-to-face events and blended learning.
WP 5 - Dissemination
Sustainable dissemination of research results through workshops, scientific publications, and best practices for industrial implementation in Kenya.
