3D Printing And Humanitarian Aid

3D Printers Can Change Humanitarian Aid

Nick Hall | August 8, 2016

3D printing has the potential to change the face of humanitarian aid and help millions of people around the world that are affected by disaster or war, according to Deloitte University.
Essentially a thought leadership program from Deloitte Consulting, the University commissioned a paper to focus on the potential impact of 3D printing on NGOs and humanitarian aid efforts.
[...] The actual supply chain costs 60-80% of the money spent and due to the infrastructure problems, the ‘last mile effect’ can cause real problems. An on-site 3D printer could cut the demand for separate deliveries, which would have a huge impact on the overall cost.

"A 3D printer is used to create a fitting for a leaky water pipe in a camp for Nepalese people displaced by earthquakes." Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/30/disaster-emergency-3d-printing-humanitarian-relief-nepal-earthquake

Haiti earthquake 2010. "Using 3D printers like the UP Mini and MakerBot Replicator, the team collaborates with health practitioners to design solutions such as medical disposables. They printed a prototype prosthetic hand which uses just five parts, as well as a butterfly-needle holder, a prototype screwdriver, prototype pipe clamps, and bottles. [Eric] James says that while needed items like those would take weeks–and perhaps even months–to make their way to a disaster area, a few 3D printers and spools of filament can make those items available immediately." Source: https://3dprint.com/56149/3d-printing-disaster-relief/

<more at https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/3d-printers-can-change-humanitarian-aid-91658/; related articles and links: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/dec/30/disaster-emergency-3d-printing-humanitarian-relief-nepal-earthquake (When disaster strikes, it's time to fly in the 3D printers. 3D printing has been used to mend pipes after the Nepal earthquake, and NGOs believe the technology could radically change the speed and cost of humanitarian aid. December 30, 2015) and https://3dprint.com/56149/3d-printing-disaster-relief/ (Power to the People -- 3D Printing Being Used in Disaster Relief. April 6, 2015)>