Susan Abayomi
Arridex has commissioned a CEAD Flexcube large-format 3D printing system at its Omnifactory in Lagos, marking a significant step towards expanding advanced composite manufacturing capabilities in Nigeria.
The development, announced on September 21, 2026, makes large-scale composite additive manufacturing available at the Lagos-based facility and is expected to support the local production of large components, moulds, tooling and structural parts for a range of industrial applications.
Developed by Netherlands-based CEAD B.V., the Flexcube is an industrial, gantry-based 3D printing system that uses pellet extrusion technology to manufacture large composite components. Its applications include the production of industrial tooling, moulds, structural components and other specialised parts.
The commissioning represents a new phase in the partnership between Arridex and CEAD, which was established in 2025 with the objective of introducing large-format additive manufacturing technology to West Africa.
Through the partnership, Arridex is deploying CEAD’s technology to support local manufacturing across sectors such as energy, maritime, construction and defence.
The new capability could enable Nigerian industries to produce certain large-scale components locally instead of relying extensively on overseas manufacturing, tooling and shipping. This is expected to bring production closer to end users and potentially shorten the distance between design requirements and finished industrial hardware.
Large-format additive manufacturing is particularly suited to applications involving sizeable moulds, specialised tooling, composite structures and other components that can require substantial tooling and lengthy supply chains under conventional manufacturing methods.
Commenting on the development, Arridex Group Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Adeleke, said the significance of the installation extends beyond the acquisition of new equipment.
He explained that the technology gives the company the ability to translate industrial requirements into locally manufactured large composite parts, moulds, tooling and structural components, particularly in areas where the size or complexity of such products has traditionally necessitated offshore production.
The installation was carried out by engineers from CEAD B.V. in collaboration with the Arridex team. The exercise also included operational training, after which Arridex engineers received CEAD Operator Certificates.
The certification, according to the company, strengthens local technical expertise and ensures that the knowledge required to operate and sustain the technology remains within Nigeria.
Adeleke noted that developing human capacity is a central part of the investment, stressing that industrial resilience depends not only on access to advanced equipment but also on having skilled personnel capable of operating, maintaining and continually applying the technology.
He said the Flexcube further expands the capabilities of the Omnifactory, while the certification of its engineers provides a foundation for transferring technical knowledge to future generations of local engineers.
The operationalisation of the system also broadens the capabilities of the Arridex Omnifactory, described by the company as West Africa’s first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility.
Commissioned in Lagos in June 2026, the Omnifactory combines different additive manufacturing technologies to support the on-demand production of industrial components, spare parts and redesigned products for critical industries.
With the addition of large-format composite manufacturing, the facility can now extend its production capabilities to larger structures and components, complementing its existing metal and polymer additive manufacturing technologies.
Arridex said it will continue working with CEAD to identify and develop applications for large-format additive manufacturing across critical industries, while expanding local technical expertise and establishing the industrial processes needed to deploy the technology at scale.
About Arridex
Arridex is an African industrial technology company with more than 20 years of operational experience across the oil and gas, maritime, aerospace, defence, construction and manufacturing sectors.
Through its Omnifactory, the company produces industrial components, spare parts and redesigned products for critical industries using advanced additive manufacturing technologies.
Its subsidiaries are also involved in the design and manufacture of autonomous systems, engineering and construction projects, as well as the development of advanced technology products.
