Dubai: RTA to 3D-print spare parts to maintain, upgrade roads

Maitha bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, said: “During the past few months, the RTA developed a new initiative and conducted various studies and experiments to increase the availability of spare parts for roads maintenance systems, in cooperation with specialist 3D printing companies. The initiative has proved to be successful in extending the sources of spare parts such as propeller fans, control equipment, and cladding for tunnel walls in Dubai’s road facilities.”

Some spare parts were 3D-printed as part of the initiative.

“The initial results of implementing the technology revealed 50 per cent savings in the operational cost of purchasing spare parts. Additional improvements were introduced on the factory-based spare parts on account of historical data analysis, which reduced breakdown rates to record-low levels.