UL Dubai Police
UL has also noticed the potential risks that 3D printing poses, including the possibility of criminality through counterfeit and untested products.
A global safety science company based in the United Arab Emirates has partnered with Dubai Police to educate users of 3D printing about the risks and potential criminality the technology brings.
UL, a non-profit organisation with headquarters in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, marked the collaborative effort with a two-day workshop. It covered the emerging industry of additive manufacturing, processes, materials and quality as well as the various safety considerations that need to be made.
Dedicated to promoting safe living and working environments, UL has experience in the additive manufacturing sector, thanks to its very own 3D printing centre of excellence in Singapore. Here, UL’s experts help industry players approach challenging issues regarding the training and education of users, among other things. In doing this, UL has also noticed the potential risks that 3D printing poses, including the possibility of criminality through counterfeit and untested products.
“Additive manufacturing will change the world in the years to come, offering huge steps forward in manufacturing, construction, medical care and many other sectors,” said Hamid Syed, Vice President and GM, UL Middle East. “However, as with all new technology, it must be understood to be implemented safely. By understanding why the necessary training is important and what type of training individuals need, we can safely move this innovative technology in the right direction as it is applied across different industries and applications.
“It’s fantastic to see forward thinking authorities such as Dubai Police not only embracing this exciting technology, but doing so in such a controlled and well thought out manner.”
Many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including UAE, have confirmed their intentions to invest in additive manufacturing technology in the next decade. This has led to UL encouraging a diligent and responsible approach to understanding the technology and using it appropriately. Dubai Police have taken on board the concerns of UL, and subsequently partnered with the organisation to consider the safe and proper use of 3D printing.
“3D printing technology is advancing rapidly across the world and Dubai Police are committed to being forerunners in the 3D generation by highlighting the world’s best practices adopted in the public safety industry,” said Colonel Badran Al Shamsi, Deputy Director of the General Department of Training at Dubai Police.
Last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced that around 25 per cent of all Dubai’s construction will be 3D printed by 2030. While, UAE and other countries across the world are incorporating 3D technologies into their manufacturing processes, it is still believed a large number of manufacturing industries are unaware of their capabilities. The aim of UL’s and Dubai Police’s collaboration is to highlight the use of additive manufacturing techniques, but more importantly, the safe use of these methods.
“We estimate that 40 per cent of the global manufacturing industry don’t know what 3D printing is in any detail,” said Dr Khalid Rafi, Lead Development Engineer at UL’s Global Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Singapore. “All stakeholders involved in this technology should have some basic understanding of it for it to progress and grow, which is why we came up with a workshop that helps to go some way in teaching the basic principles of the technology.”
