Italy’s Fondazione ITS “Cantieri dell’Arte”, an educational institution specializing in architectural restoration, has acquired a large-scale Crane construction 3D printer from WASP. The school is the first in Italy to install a construction 3D printing system in-house and will use the technology in its training and research courses.
The Fondazione ITS was founded in part by ESEB, a Brescia-based training center for the construction sector, and specializes in teaching the skills required to restore cultural landmarks and architectural heritage sites. The training institution places a focus on sustainability and the use of advanced technologies, such as digital manufacturing and 3D printing. The Crane WASP 3D printer, an Italian-made system that is capable of printing large-scale structures using locally sourced materials, was therefore the perfect fit for the Fondazione ITS’ needs.
Manufacturing on Demand
(ESEB/ITS Academy Cantieri dell’Arte, WASP)
With the large-scale modular 3D printer on-site, students will be able to learn how to use the technology first hand and pursue new research projects and sustainable 3D printing applications in the construction and restoration sector. Around the world, 3D printing is being explored as a viable option for architectural restoration projects, as it could help bridge a skills gap that currently exists in that sector. When in 2019, the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was severely damaged by a fire, for example, 3D printing was suggested as a potential solution for restoring certain elements.
In Italy, the integration of large-format 3D printing at a construction training institution demonstrates the growing influence of the technology in the sector. As WASP says: “The adoption of this technology by ESEB and ITS Academy Cantieri dell’Arte represents a significant milestone for the Italian construction landscape. Technologies and knowledge that were once reserved for a limited number of 3D printing specialists are now becoming practical tools in the construction sector. Thanks to the training courses, these technologies are spreading and laying the foundation for a future where 3D printing will become an everyday tool in the construction field.”
WASP’s construction 3D printing technology has to date been used for a myriad of projects, including the recently unveiled 3D printed sensory ceramic garden at the RHS Chelsea Flow Show, which integrates over 600 modular clay planters; a “Dropcity” installation in Milan for the 2024 Milan Design Week; and a sustainably built Dior pop-up store made from 3D printed clay, sand and natural fibers in Dubai.
You might also like:
Eight 3D printed homes by ICON go on sale in Texas: The new homes are part of ICON’s Codex catalog and are single-story builds spanning 2,900 to 4,100 square feet (four-five bedrooms). Most relevantly to us, they are made using ICON’s construction 3D printing process, which is based on its large-scale 3D printing technology and the company’s proprietary CarbonX, a low-carbon concrete material made from local materials sourced from South Texas. ICON now actually has two 3D printing solutions: the brand new Phoenix robotic system for multi-story builds and its original Vulcan gantry system for single-story homes. The entire construction 3D printing process is controlled by ICON’s BuildOS software, which generates digital architectures and control the construction 3D printing robots that bring those designs to life.
* This article is reprinted from 3D Printing Media Network. If you are involved in infringement, please contact us to delete it.
Author: Tess Boissonneault
Leave A Comment