Afate Gnikou has a vivid imagination. The creator of the worlds first 3D printer made entirely from e-waste did not let a little thing like living in a the developing world stop him.  No, he decided to kill two birds with one stone, tackle the e-waste problem, and create a new product at the same time!  

E-waste is a rising problem in Africa.  Electronics from around the world are illegally dumped in landfills in Africa.  These electronics contain toxic chemicals like mercury that eventually seep into the environment. This is called e-waste and according to Step initiative, global e-waste is expected to increase by 33% over the next 5 years!

I could go on and on about e-waste, but would prefer to talk about how the guys at Woelabs are tackling this problem.  Woelabs is a tech hub in Togo, West Africa.    The hubs creator Sename Koffi Agboginou has a vision to transform Togo into a smart city, while maintaining its unique African architecture.  When the hub wanted to purchase a 3D printer, one of the hubs members,  Afate, suggested that they should just build one….and they did!

That new 3D printer is called “The Wafat”, and it might not look like much but it is a true piece of brilliance. A 3D printer made up of old electronics that are polluting the land! 3D printing has the ability to change the manufacturing landscape in Africa, and what better way to start the revolution than with this African made innovation, good job Woelabs!…………………..Stay Mobile