“Over the past few months, RTA has developed a new initiative and conducted various studies and experiments to increase the availability of spare parts for road maintenance systems, in cooperation with companies specializing in 3D printing. initiative has proven to be effective in expanding sources of spare parts such as propeller fans, control equipment and lining of tunnel walls for road facilities in Dubai,” said Maitha bin Adai.

As part of the initiative, certain types of spare parts have been chosen to be 3D printed; based on specific criteria, such as the lack of spare parts in local markets and taking into account safety measures, she added.

The first results of the implementation of the technology revealed a 50% savings on the operational cost of purchasing spare parts. Further improvements were introduced on factory spares due to historical data analysis, which reduced failure rates to record lows. 3D printing technology has also helped reduce transport costs and the time needed to import spare parts into Dubai, the agency’s CEO said.

At the start of the initiative, the Traffic and Roads Agency cooperated with three leading companies in 3D printing in manufacturing to develop plans and studies to improve spare part manufacturing processes. It was also intended to ensure their effectiveness as required before being used in service in the maintenance of roads and facilities in Dubai.