CSIR offers 316L metal powder to South Africa’s Additive Manufacturing industry
May 21, 2025
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), based in Pretoria, South Africa, reports it has begun producing 316L stainless steel powder for the country’s Additive Manufacturing industry. The metal powder is made using a recently commissioned ultrasonic atomiser, co-funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF), an entity of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).
The atomiser is said to produce high-quality powders that have the required particle size, flowability and density for AM. The process involved characterisation using advanced analytical methods to ensure consistency.
Utilising the machine’s capability to atomise both reactive and non-reactive materials, CSIR hopes to provide 316L stainless steel powder to the South African market on a pilot scale. Currently, South Africa depends on imports to access powders of this quality.
Dr Miemie Maminza, who leads the Powder Metallurgy Technologies research group at the CSIR, explained, “Our aim has been to create a sustainable local supply of high-quality stainless-steel powder, which currently has significant demand in the Additive Manufacturing space. Utilising our capabilities and expertise, we believe we can contribute to the establishment of locally produced powder to grow the AM industry. We are excited about the potential this holds for driving industrial growth and localisation.”
Using its own atomised powder, CSIR additively manufactured prototype tools for industrial use. The prototypes were manufactured on the Hyrax Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing from Aditiv Solutions, Pretoria.
Dr Ntombi Mathe, a principal researcher in AM at the CSIR, stated, “By manufacturing our own metal powders and developing printers, we are fostering an ecosystem where innovation breeds economic empowerment; advancing in technology, supporting local businesses, and creating job opportunities. This approach leads to a cycle of positive economic growth and development.”
“After reviewing the report on the initial batch production of 316L stainless steel powder produced by the CSIR, Metal Heart has found the quality of this domestic powder to align with that of internationally sourced materials,” added Gerrie Lombaard, Director of AM company Metal Heart. “The powder meets standards in aspects such as oxygen content, density, particle size and morphology. Therefore, Metal Heart is confident in using this powder for their production processes, anticipating no compromise in quality.”
This initiative is intended to act as an integral part of a broader national agenda to drive localisation, reduce dependence on imports and enhance the technological capabilities of local industries. The DSTI has made substantial investments in growing the additive manufacturing value chain in all its dimensions. This includes advancements in Additive Manufacturing, including Design for AM (DfAM) and machine building. Additionally, the organisation has focused on the downstream, post-processing aspects like surface heat treatment as well as the upstream development of powder/feedstock and designing for circularity.
Beeuwen Gerryts, Chief Director of Technology Localisation, Beneficiation and Advanced Manufacturing at the DSTI, said, “The CSIR is to be congratulated on this milestone, which was achieved with DSTI and NRF funding, as this is an important step in helping to strengthen the upstream Additive Manufacturing value chain and to increase the local national capacity in powder processing. We look forward to receiving further positive feedback on how the technology can be scaled up to match industry demand at competitive prices.”
