Industrial manufacturing in Nigeria and West Africa has achieved a historic milestone with the introduction of 3D printing technology. Arridex has officially launched its groundbreaking 'Omnifactory' in Lagos, marking the region's first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility. This development signals a major shift toward localized production and self-reliance.
Strategic Rebranding and Launch
The launch follows a strategic rebranding of the company's corporate identity from RusselSmith to Arridex. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who officially inaugurated the plant, stated: 'Today, I opened West Africa's first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility in Lagos. By producing industrial components and spare parts here in Lagos, Arridex is helping to reduce our dependence on imports, strengthening critical industries and supporting economic growth.'
Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the Arridex team for their vision and commitment to building solutions that serve Nigeria and the wider African continent. He emphasized that Lagos will continue to support investments that create opportunities, grow local capacity, and position the state as a hub for innovation and industry.
Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities
The Arridex Omnifactory is designed to reshape industrial supply chains by housing several advanced 3D printing and fabrication techniques under a single roof. The facility utilizes cutting-edge systems such as Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), Cold Spray, Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). These technologies enable the creation of high-precision, on-demand industrial components and replacement parts.
Beyond standard gear, the site's large-format machinery is robust enough to engineer full-sized marine parts and massive structural items for heavy industries. This capability addresses critical supply bottlenecks that have historically hampered West African enterprises.
Leadership Vision
Group Chief Executive Officer of Arridex, Kayode Adeleke, said: 'We did not set out to build the biggest company, but a resilient one. For over two decades, we have chosen the harder path, and that is to make in Africa what others import, to meet global standards without exception, and to put purpose before profit. The Arridex Omnifactory is where that conviction becomes infrastructure.'
Adeleke added: 'The name on the door is new, but the work behind it is not. We are not stopping here. By the first quarter of 2027, we will commission the Arridex Mega Omnifactory, which will stand among the largest single-site industrial additive manufacturing facilities in the world. The next chapter of global manufacturing can be written from Lagos. We are building it.'
Impact on Regional Infrastructure
According to Adeleke, this launch represents a massive leap forward for regional infrastructure, offering a direct solution to supply bottlenecks that have choked West African enterprise for decades. Historically, asset managers operating aging systems had to deal with grueling shipping lead times, complex international legalities, and the disappearance of parts from long-defunct original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The Omnifactory bypasses these hurdles entirely by enabling critical pieces to be conceptualized, rendered, and printed locally on demand.
Certifications and Partnerships
The company currently holds Pioneer Status in additive manufacturing from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and is the first enterprise qualified by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for 3D printing deployments in the oil sector. Furthermore, Arridex has solidified a joint venture partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to locally manufacture military-grade components.
On the global stage, Arridex has also become the first African member of the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA) and is recognized as a Designated Strategic Partner of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).
