Additive manufacturer Metal Heart has been named the winner of the Additive Manufacturing BRICS+ Award at the tenth Steel and Engineering Industry Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) Awards for Excellence, celebrating the metals and engineering sector.

Specialising in custom titanium implants and prosthetics, Metal Heart was presented the award by Seifsa VP Elias Monage on November 20 at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre in Kempton Park.

“The award celebrates innovation that transforms industry and lives through the power of technology. This year’s recognition goes to a company pioneering patient-specific medical implants right here in South Africa – a remarkable example of how advanced manufacturing and biomedical science can work hand in hand,” he said.

With ISO 13485 certification, Metal Heart can manufacture any medical devices and implants. The medical industry is rapidly growing and is already one of the largest users of additive manufacturing, says Metal Heart’s company profile.

“The medical industry gains great advantage because of the freedom of complex design and personalisation that the additive manufacturing technology has to offer. Groundbreaking uses for this technology are being [identified] and revolutionary research is made all within the boundaries of the additive manufacturing medical field.”

Metal Heart was established with the core purpose of providing South Africa with the first-of-its-kind manufacturing hub focusing mainly on metal additive manufacturing. Metal Heart uses additive manufacturing methods in the form of selective laser melting to manufacture complex metal components for aviation, aerospace and defence, tooling, automotive, research and development, and the medical and dental industries.

Metal Heart aims to forever change the way manufacturing is seen and understood. Besides additive manufacturing, the company offers a range of services under one roof to optimise production, including quality control, design, reverse engineering, heat treatment and plating technology.

“This year’s awards represent ten years of recognising the breadth of talent in South Africa’s metal and engineering sector and the resilience of small and large companies,” said Seifsa CEO Lucio Trentini.