Our Engineering & Product Development Portfolio

3D scanning, reverse engineering and product development for custom tools, replacement components, agricultural equipment and prototypes.

Engineering Projects

Agricultural Equipment

Seed-Bed Roller

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Harvesting-Line Rollers

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Tools, Components & Replacement Parts

Obsolete Toilet Cistern Component

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Controlled Pressure Housing

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Grouting Boundary Tool

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Load-Point Bracket

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UV Printing Press Clamps

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Product Development

Fishing Lure Prototype

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Agricultural Seed-Bed Roller - Improving Planting Consistency

Client: Confidential
Industry: Agriculture & Product Development
Service: Measurement • 3D Scanning • Mechanical Design • Prototyping • Additive Manufacturing

Project Overview

A farming operation was experiencing inconsistent soil penetration during seed placement and required a roller that could produce repeatable impressions across its existing seed beds.

The supplied seed bed was used as the physical reference. Its spacing and geometry were measured and translated into a roller capable of travelling across the full width of the bed without interfering with the gaps between planting positions.

The first prototype matched the required spacing, but physical testing showed that its features did not penetrate the soil consistently enough.

Instead of redesigning the entire tool, the ends of the roller features were modified with sharper geometry. This improved penetration while maintaining the spacing established by the original seed bed.

The revised design worked. The final tool combined 3D-printed components with bearings and a steel rod to create a complete rotating assembly.

Highlights

  • Existing seed bed used as the physical design reference
  • Spacing and geometry captured for digital development
  • Roller designed to match the full width of the seed bed
  • Clearances maintained between individual planting positions
  • First prototype manufactured and physically tested
  • Initial design did not penetrate the soil consistently
  • Roller features modified with sharper ends
  • Bearings incorporated for rotational movement
  • Steel rod used as the central axle
  • Final assembly combined printed and conventional mechanical components

Impact

The completed seed-bed roller now produces more consistent soil impressions for seed placement.

Following the unsuccessful first test, the targeted geometry change provided the required penetration without altering the established spacing.

The client is now using the revised roller to prepare seed beds more consistently, supporting a more controlled seedling-production process.

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Agricultural Harvesting-Line Rollers - Localising an Imported Component

Client: Confidential
Industry: Agriculture & Equipment Manufacturing
Service: Product Development • Additive Manufacturing • Material Evaluation • Small-Batch Production

 

Project Overview

An agricultural operation required replacement rollers for carts operating along its harvesting line. The existing rollers were imported from Europe, creating dependence on an international supply chain for replacement components.

The project was undertaken to determine whether additive manufacturing could provide a viable method of producing the rollers locally and on demand.

The first iteration was manufactured in ABS, but operational testing showed that it did not provide the performance required for the application.

The material was subsequently changed to carbon-fibre-reinforced ABS, and the components were optimised for additive manufacturing. Bearings were fitted at both ends before a batch was produced for operational use.

Highlights

  • Local alternative developed for a previously imported component
  • Rollers manufactured for carts used along an agricultural harvesting line
  • First iteration produced in ABS
  • Initial material did not achieve the required performance
  • Material changed to carbon-fibre-reinforced ABS
  • Components optimised for additive manufacturing
  • Bearings fitted at both ends
  • Batch produced for operational use
  • Performance evaluated under actual working conditions

Impact

The ABS-CF rollers are currently in service and have performed well during the initial operating period.

Long-term performance and production economics are still being evaluated. However, the project has already demonstrated that the component can be manufactured locally instead of remaining entirely dependent on European suppliers.

The completed digital-manufacturing process also creates the possibility of producing additional rollers when required rather than maintaining imported replacement stock.

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Obsolete Toilet Cistern Component - Reverse Engineered Replacement Part

Client: Private Hospitality Client
Industry: Hospitality / Facilities Maintenance
Service: Reverse Engineering • CAD Reconstruction • Additive Manufacturing • Replacement Part Manufacturing

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to recreate an obsolete toilet cistern component after the original part could no longer be sourced as a standard replacement.

The client had a functioning system that was being limited by one failed component. Replacing the full unit would have been unnecessary, costly, and wasteful, so the project focused on recreating the specific part needed to restore function.

PH3D worked from the original component, captured the required dimensions, rebuilt the geometry in CAD, and manufactured a replacement part through additive manufacturing. The design process focused on fitment, alignment, mounting points, and compatibility with the existing cistern mechanism.

The final replacement allowed the client to keep the existing system in use instead of replacing the full assembly.

Highlights

  • Reverse engineering of an obsolete cistern component
  • CAD reconstruction from the original physical part
  • Replacement part manufactured for an existing system
  • Design focused on fitment, alignment, and mounting compatibility
  • Additive manufacturing used for low-volume spare part production
  • Avoided unnecessary replacement of the full cistern system

Impact

This project shows how reverse engineering can support facilities maintenance when small but critical components become unavailable.

By recreating the failed part locally, Printhoek 3D helped the client restore function, reduce replacement cost, and extend the usable life of existing equipment.

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Controlled Pressure Housing - Designed for Sealing, Heat, and Continuous Load

Client: Confidential
Industry: Industrial / Filtration System
Service: Functional Component Design • CAD Development • Additive Manufacturing • Material Selection

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to manufacture a functional housing for a system where the requirement was not airflow, but controlled pressure.

That distinction changed the design completely. Airflow is an open-system problem: air moves from one point to another. A controlled-pressure system is different. The housing had to maintain a pressure differential in a sealed environment, under load, through a filter, without leakage.

A standard centrifugal housing was not suitable for that condition. It assumes an open system, where geometry supports movement through the part rather than pressure retention. In this case, every interface became a possible failure point.

The geometry was therefore driven by the requirement. Interfaces were defined to enforce sealing. Internal geometry was preserved to manage resistance through the filter. The structure was designed to maintain stability under continuous load.

Material selection followed the same logic. ABS was selected for thermal stability because a sealed system running continuously generates heat.

The final result was not a simplified model made easier to print. It was a functional part manufactured to specification, with the internal geometry and interfaces maintained.

Highlights

  • Housing designed for controlled pressure, not simple airflow
  • Geometry developed around sealing and pressure retention
  • Internal geometry preserved to manage resistance through the filter
  • Interfaces maintained to reduce pressure loss
  • ABS selected for thermal stability during continuous use
  • Functional additive manufactured component produced to specification
  • Design decisions driven by requirement, not print convenience

Impact

This project shows why defining the correct requirement matters before design begins.

By identifying that the housing needed to maintain controlled pressure, not simply move air, Printhoek 3D designed the part around sealing, heat, interface stability, and continuous load.

The outcome was a functional industrial component built to meet the requirement rather than a printed shape adjusted for convenience.

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Grouting Boundary Tool - Designed for Repeatable Surface Finish

Client: Confidential
Industry: Construction / Civil Works
Service: Functional Tool Design • CAD Development • Additive Manufacturing • Custom Tooling

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to develop a custom tool for a grouting application where a specific surface finish was required along wall boundaries.

The requirement was not simply to make a tool shape. The tool had to guide grout along a fixed boundary, produce the same finish every time, remain rigid during use, maintain the required boundary profile, and operate in a wet application environment.

Manual application could not meet those requirements consistently. Pressure varies. Angle varies. Movement varies. Those variations affect the final finish.

PH3D developed the tool with input from both the contractor and the engineer to meet the site conditions. The geometry was designed to constrain how the grout was applied, define the contact surfaces, maintain the edge profile, and reduce operator-dependent variation.

The result was a repeatable process because the application was built into the tool rather than left entirely to manual control.

Highlights

  • Custom tool designed for a fixed grouting boundary
  • Geometry developed around surface finish consistency
  • Contact surfaces designed to define the boundary
  • Edge profile built into the tool geometry
  • Rigid structure for use during wet application
  • Reduced operator variation during finishing
  • Developed with contractor and engineer input

Impact

This project shows how additive manufacturing can improve site work when the requirement is specific and repeatability matters.

By turning the surface finish requirement into a controlled tool geometry, Printhoek 3D helped reduce variation, improve consistency, and make the grouting process less dependent on individual operator technique.

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Load-Point Bracket - Reverse Engineered for Material Stability

Client: Confidential
Industry: Industrial / Replacement Parts
Service: 3D Scanning • Reverse Engineering • CAD Reconstruction • Additive Manufacturing • Material Selection

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to reproduce a bracket component after the original part became difficult to source due to supply chain limitations.

The project was not only about recreating the shape. The original component had to be scanned, rebuilt, adjusted for manufacturability, and tested through multiple iterations to confirm fit and performance.

Initial versions were produced in ASA, a material commonly used for functional parts because of its temperature resistance and environmental stability. Under testing, however, the issue was not general strength. The part showed slight deformation at the load points, which affected fit and performance during repeated use.

The material was changed to carbon fibre reinforced ASA to improve stiffness where the bracket carried load. The objective was not simply to make the part stronger, but to reduce deformation and improve dimensional stability under use.

The final component combined reverse engineering, design adjustment, and material selection to create a functional replacement suited to the actual operating conditions.

Highlights

  • Bracket component reproduced due to supply chain limitations
  • 3D scanning used to capture the original geometry
  • CAD reconstruction adjusted for manufacturability
  • Multiple iterations produced to validate fit and performance
  • ASA test version used before final material selection
  • Carbon fibre reinforced ASA selected for improved stiffness
  • Material decision based on load-point deformation

Impact

This project shows why material selection has to follow the failure condition.

By identifying that the bracket was deforming at the load points, Printhoek 3D moved beyond simple replication and produced a replacement component with better stiffness and stability for real use.

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John Meinert Printing - Precision Restoration for Namibia’s Printing Pioneer

Client: John Meinert printing (JMP)
Industry: Spare parts Manufacturing
Service:  3D Scanning • Reverse Engineering • Legacy Component Restoration

Project Overview

For this project, Printhoek 3D was commissioned to reproduce discontinued clamping mechanisms used on one of John Meinert Printing’s legacy UV printing presses a durable, decades-old system still forming part of Namibia’s oldest commercial printing operation, established in 1912.

Because the original manufacturer and spare-part suppliers no longer exist, replacement components were unobtainable. Working through a local industry contractor, our engineering team reverse-engineered the original clamping units, reconstructed them digitally, and optimized the designs for high-precision 3D printing.

To achieve the correct functional performance, we conducted density and material-tuning tests to balance flexibility, grip, and strength ensuring the new clamps met the printer’s operational tolerances, allowing John Meinert Printing to maintain seamless production and extend the service life of its trusted equipment.

Highlights

  • Reverse-engineered discontinued UV-printer clamps for legacy machinery

  • Material-density calibration to replicate original pressure and grip performance

  • Digital component library created for on-demand future manufacturing

  • Seamless mechanical compatibility with existing press systems

Impact

By combining digital design precision with functional material testing, Printhoek 3D delivered a cost-effective alternative to potential international sourcing and machine downtime.
This collaboration demonstrates how reverse engineering and additive manufacturing safeguard Namibia’s industrial heritage ensuring that John Meinert Printing, one of the nation’s longest-standing printing houses, continues producing quality work with reliability and innovation at its core.

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Fishing Lure Prototype - Reverse Engineered for Movement Testing

Client: Max Pieper
Industry: Product Development / Recreational Equipment
Service: Reverse Engineering • CAD Development • Prototype Manufacturing • Additive Manufacturing

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to recreate a fishing lure originally sourced from Japan after the part became difficult to find or no longer readily available.

The project required more than a visual copy. The lure’s geometry affected how it moved through water, so the design had to preserve the proportions, body profile, and functional features that contributed to its fish-like movement.

PH3D worked from the original lure as a reference and rebuilt the geometry digitally for prototype manufacturing. The prototype allowed the client to test the concept and use the printed part as part of the development process for the final lure material.

The result was a locally recreated prototype that allowed the client to continue testing and developing a lure design that would otherwise have been difficult to replace.

 

 

Highlights

  • Reverse engineering of a difficult-to-source fishing lure
  • CAD development based on the original lure geometry
  • Design focused on movement, proportions, and body profile
  • Prototype manufacturing for functional testing
  • Additive manufacturing used to support low-volume product development
  • Local development pathway for a product no longer easily available

Impact

This project shows how reverse engineering can support product development when the original item is unavailable but its performance depends on specific geometry.

By recreating the lure as a functional prototype, Printhoek 3D helped the client test and continue developing a design where shape, movement, and material behaviour all mattered.

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Containerized Incinerator Scale Model - Technical Concept Communication

Client: Namibia Medical Engineering
Industry: Industrial / Medical Waste Management
Service: LiDAR Scanning • CAD Development • Scale Model Design • Additive Manufacturing

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned by Namibia Medical Engineering to create a physical scale model of a proposed containerized incinerator system for presentation at Mining Expo.

The project was not a simple display model. The client needed a physical representation of an evolving technical concept that could be reviewed, understood, and presented before full-scale deployment. This required the model to remain connected to the real system while still being practical to manufacture at scale-model size.

Using a combination of manual measurements, LiDAR scan data, CAD development, and additive manufacturing, PH3D translated the concept into a physical model that could communicate layout, structure, and system intent clearly to stakeholders.

The final model allowed the proposed containerized incinerator system to be presented in a way that drawings and digital references alone could not achieve.

Highlights

  • Scale model of a proposed containerized incinerator system
  • Combination of manual measurements and LiDAR scan data
  • CAD development for physical model production
  • Additive manufacturing of detailed model components
  • Technical communication tool for Mining Expo presentation
  • Physical model used to support stakeholder understanding and review

Impact

This project shows how physical models can support industrial decision-making before a full-scale system is built.

By converting an evolving technical concept into a tangible model, Printhoek 3D helped Namibia Medical Engineering communicate the system more clearly, support stakeholder discussions, and present the project with greater confidence at Mining Expo.

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Daniel Godfrey

Daniel is a mechatronic engineer with a strong background in programming, electronics, and product development. He has collaborated with Printhoek 3D on groundbreaking projects such as PET recycling systems and advanced prototyping solutions. Driven by curiosity and problem-solving, he brings research and innovation that turn ambitious ideas into practical technologies.

Daniel James Godfrey

Mechatronic Engineer & R&D Specialist

Gino Fourie

Gino blends mechanical design expertise with sharp business and financial insight to keep Printhoek 3D operating at peak efficiency. From managing multi-printer farms to implementing real-time tracking systems, he ensures smooth workflows and scalable growth. His ability to connect engineering precision with strategic operations makes him a driving force behind the bureau’s expansion.

Gino Fourie

Head of Operations

Justin Cole

Justin oversees workshop operations and ensures every print that leaves Printhoek 3D meets uncompromising quality standards. With years of hands-on expertise in additive manufacturing, inspection, and post-processing, he is dedicated to producing precise, reliable results. His eye for detail and commitment to excellence safeguard the bureau’s reputation for world-class precision.

Justin Rain Cole

Workshop & Quality Lead

Large-Format Giraffe Sculpture - Fabricated for Assembly and Installation

Client: Confidential
Industry: Interior / Custom Display Fabrication
Service: Large-Format Additive Manufacturing • Sculptural Fabrication • Assembly Planning • Finishing Support

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to fabricate a large-format giraffe sculpture for an interior installation.

The project required translating a complex sculptural form into a physically stable, manufacturable object at scale. At this size, small decisions become critical. Wall thickness, segmentation, internal structure, joint alignment, handling, and finishing strategy all affect whether the final piece can be produced, assembled, moved, and installed successfully.

PH3D planned the sculpture as a segmented fabrication rather than a single printed object. Each section had to support the final build, align correctly during assembly, and preserve surface continuity across visible joins.

The real test came after fabrication. Once installed, the sculpture had to hold its presence, integrity, and visual intent in the environment it was designed for.

Highlights

  • Large-format sculptural fabrication
  • Complex form prepared for manufacturable segmentation
  • Internal support and wall thickness considered from the start
  • Joint alignment planned for assembly and finishing
  • Surface continuity maintained across assembled sections
  • Fabricated for handling, installation, and long-term display
  • Additive manufacturing used to produce a custom installation piece at scale

Impact

This project shows how additive manufacturing can support custom sculptural and interior display work when scale, assembly, and installation are planned properly.

By resolving the sculpture for fabrication before printing began, Printhoek 3D helped turn a complex digital form into a physical installation that could be assembled, finished, and placed in its final environment.

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Whitney Namwi Ntema

Whitney is an industrial designer redefining the intersection of creativity and advanced manufacturing. At Printhoek 3D, she bridges engineering precision and visual design, ensuring every product reflects both function and identity. Her expertise in digital fabrication and branding enhances the bureau’s capabilities, turning innovation into design that inspires.

Whitney Namwi Ntema

Industrial Designer & Branding Specialist

Corroded Pump Housing - Reverse Engineering for Material Testing

Client: Confidential
Industry: Industrial Manufacturing
Service: Metrology-Grade 3D Scanning • Reverse Engineering • CAD Reconstruction • Additive Manufacturing • Material Testing Support

 

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to reverse engineer a corroded pump housing used in an industrial environment where repeated exposure to a dilute acidic solution had caused the original component to fail.

The project was not only about recreating the shape of the damaged housing. The more important requirement was understanding why the part was failing and creating a replacement pathway that could support fit testing, performance checks, and future material improvement.

Using metrology-grade 3D scanning, PH3D captured the remaining geometry of the damaged housing and reconstructed the missing and degraded features in CAD. The digital model was then prepared for additive manufacturing, allowing initial replacement units to be produced for fit and functional validation before committing to a more specialised long-term material.

This approach allowed the client to test the component geometry first, reduce uncertainty, and move toward a more chemically resistant solution with better technical confidence.

Highlights

  • 3D scanning of a corroded industrial pump housing
  • CAD reconstruction of damaged and missing geometry
  • Reverse engineering based on failure conditions, not only shape
  • Prototype manufacturing for fit and functional validation
  • Material strategy informed by chemical exposure requirements
  • Practical R&D pathway before final material commitment

Impact

This project shows how reverse engineering can support industrial maintenance and material development when existing components fail under operating conditions.

By capturing the damaged part, rebuilding the geometry digitally, and producing initial units for validation, Printhoek 3D helped the client move from repeated component failure toward a more controlled replacement and testing process.

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Oxygen Cylinder Handle Assembly - Reverse Engineered Medical Equipment Component

Client: Confidential
Industry: Medical / Healthcare Equipment
Service: Reverse Engineering • CAD Reconstruction • Additive Manufacturing • Replacement Part Manufacturing

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to recreate a failed handle assembly for a medical oxygen cylinder after the original component could no longer perform reliably.

The project focused on replacing the external handle assembly, not altering the oxygen cylinder or pressure system itself. The part needed to fit the existing cylinder interface, allow safe handling, and restore usability without waiting for imported replacement parts.

PH3D reverse engineered the failed component, rebuilt the geometry in CAD, and manufactured a replacement part locally through additive manufacturing. The design process focused on fitment, handling, strength, and compatibility with the existing equipment.

By producing the component locally, the client had a practical replacement pathway for a small but important medical equipment part.

 

Highlights

  • Reverse engineering of a failed oxygen cylinder handle assembly
  • CAD reconstruction for fit with existing medical equipment
  • Replacement part manufactured locally through additive manufacturing
  • Design focused on handling, fitment, and functional use
  • Reduced dependency on imported replacement components
  • Restored usability of existing equipment without replacing the full unit

Impact

This project shows how reverse engineering can support healthcare equipment maintenance when small external components fail or become difficult to source.

By recreating the oxygen cylinder handle assembly locally, Printhoek 3D helped restore function to existing equipment and reduced the delay associated with waiting for replacement parts through normal supply channels.

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Romar Quitasol

Romar is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur driving Industry 4.0 in Namibia. He founded Printhoek 3D to pioneer advanced additive manufacturing and has over a decade of experience in 3D printing, scanning, and mechanical design. His mission is to push the boundaries of what’s possible, transforming complex engineering challenges into future-ready solutions

Rodolfo Marcial (Romar) Rañola Quitasol

Founder & CEO