By Chioma Obinna

Arridex has launched what it describes as Africa’s first borderless manufacturing network with the signing of an agreement to establish its Ghana node under the Africa Distributed Additive Manufacturing, ADAM, Network.

The agreement, signed in Lagos, designates Sodah Engineering and Logistics Limited, a wholly Ghanaian-owned engineering and logistics company, as the exclusive ADAM Network node partner in Ghana.

The initiative is designed to connect Ghanaian and West African industries to Arridex’s Omnifactory hub in Lagos, providing on-demand advanced manufacturing capabilities for critical sectors including mining, energy, manufacturing, maritime and defence.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Group Chief Executive Officer of Arridex, Kayode Adeleke, said the initiative was aimed at addressing critical supply chain challenges confronting industries across the continent and strengthening Africa’s manufacturing resilience.

Adeleke said: “Across Africa, industry does not stop for want of ambition or for want of talent; many times, it stops for want of a critical part in a piece of legacy equipment.

“Today, we begin a borderless manufacturing network, conceived to rewrite how manufacturing and maintenance happens across our continent.

“By expanding our footprint into Ghana, we are establishing the core building blocks of a seamlessly connected, tech-driven manufacturing network that empowers local industries to produce high-value components on demand and build operational resilience.”
Under the arrangement, the Ghana node will provide a local platform for industry engagement, technical training and awareness while connecting businesses to Arridex’s advanced digital manufacturing capabilities in Nigeria.

Managing Director of Sodah Engineering and Logistics Limited and operator of the ADAM Network Ghana Node, Dr Tesa D. Ayernor, said the initiative could significantly reduce the economic losses associated with delays in sourcing critical industrial components from outside Africa.

Ayernor said: “When a critical part fails in Ghana today, industry can wait months for a replacement to arrive from another continent, and that wait is one of the largest undiscussed costs in our economy.

“The ADAM network presents an opportunity for the region to leapfrog into the future, going far beyond solving supply chain problems for industries to establishing true manufacturing capability.

“As the first node of the ADAM Network, Ghana has the opportunity to model what is possible for every node that follows on the continent.”

Work on the Ghana node is expected to commence immediately, with initial activities focused on market awareness, technical training and engagement with Ghanaian industries.

Arridex and Sodah are also expected to collaborate with research institutions in Ghana to deepen local knowledge and skills in advanced digital manufacturing.

The company said the Ghana node would serve as a blueprint for its planned expansion across Africa.

Over the next five years, Arridex plans to establish 25 ADAM Network nodes across 15 African countries, with the Lagos Omnifactory serving as the network’s anchor.

The company also plans to expand to a Mega Omnifactory in 2027 as part of its strategy to build a continent-wide advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

The initiative comes amid efforts by African industries to reduce dependence on imported components and strengthen local manufacturing and maintenance capacity.

Through distributed additive manufacturing, the network is expected to enable industries to produce selected high-value components closer to where they are needed, potentially reducing supply-chain delays and improving operational resilience.