Following the success of the 2023 RAPDASA Conference, joined by RobMech, PRASA and AMI, hosted at the CSIR in November 2023, we are pleased to announce the first call for papers for the 2024 RAPDASA international conference to be held on 28 – 31 October 2024 at the Boardwalk Hotel and Conference Venue in Gqeberha, South Africa. RAPDASA is again joined by Robotics and Mechatronics (RobMech), the Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa (PRASA) and the South African Advanced Materials Initiative (AMI).

This conference will bring together experts from industry, R&D institutions, academia and students in additive manufacturing, materials engineering, rapid product development, pattern recognition, robotics and mechatronics to present research, network and expand the fraternity that has been built by the previous conferences.

The theme of the 2024 conference is: Unlocking Advanced Manufacturing.

This is a call to everyone involved with advanced manufacturing in its various forms. Our collective aim is to support and advance the manufacturing industry for inclusive economic growth, academic collaboration, increasing competitiveness and improving the livelihoods of people.

The conference will offer opportunities for local and international participants from industry, R&D institutions, academia and government, to connect and collaborate to grow the next generation of advanced manufacturing enterprises across the African continent and globally.