Lagos has recorded another major milestone in Nigeria’s industrial and technological advancement with the commissioning of West Africa’s first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility, the Arridex Omnifactory.
The facility, officially opened in Lagos, represents a significant step toward strengthening local manufacturing capacity and reducing dependence on imported industrial components and spare parts across critical sectors of the economy.
Speaking at the launch, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the facility as a strategic investment that aligns with the state's vision of becoming a leading hub for innovation, technology, and industrial development in Africa.
“By producing industrial components and spare parts here in Lagos, Arridex is helping to reduce our dependence on imports, strengthen critical industries and support economic growth,” the governor said.
He commended the company for its commitment to building solutions that extend beyond Nigeria’s borders and contribute to industrial development across the continent.
“I commend the Arridex team for their vision and commitment to building solutions that serve not only Nigeria but the wider African continent. Lagos will continue to support investments that create opportunities, grow capacity and position our state as a hub for innovation and industry,” he added.
The Omnifactory brings together multiple advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof, including Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), Cold Spray, Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). The integrated facility is designed to enable the on-demand production of industrial parts, components, and replacement spares for sectors such as oil and gas, maritime, aerospace, defence, construction, and manufacturing.
Industry stakeholders say the facility addresses one of Africa’s long-standing industrial challenges: dependence on foreign supply chains for critical equipment and replacement parts. By enabling local production, the Omnifactory is expected to shorten procurement timelines, improve operational efficiency, and enhance resilience across key industries.
The facility also features large-format additive manufacturing capabilities, allowing for the production of large-scale structures and industrial components, including marine applications.
Arridex, which recently transitioned from its former identity as RusselSmith, has evolved from an oil and gas asset integrity company into a multi-sector industrial technology group. The company holds Pioneer Status in additive manufacturing granted by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and was the first company qualified by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for additive manufacturing deployment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The commissioning of the Omnifactory is expected to deepen indigenous industrial capacity, support technology transfer, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a growing centre for advanced manufacturing in Africa.
As global industries increasingly embrace additive manufacturing, the launch of the facility signals a new chapter for Nigerian innovation, one in which critical industrial solutions can be designed, developed, and produced locally while serving markets across the continent.
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