News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Holcim Polska completed its first 3D printed concrete drinking water tank in Barczewko, near Olsztyn, Poland. This project, achieved in collaboration with GLOBTANK, COBOD International, and the general contractor EKO-WOD Kętrzyn for the investor ZWiK Barczewo, highlights Holcim’s emerging role as a leader in innovative additive construction technologies such as the BOD 3D printers.
An ongoing investigation led by British water services company United Utilities, ChangeMaker3D, Manchester Metropolitan University’s PrintCity and Scottish Water aims to determine the benefits and impacts of using 3D printing for water infrastructure components. The initiative, called Water Industry Printfrastructure (WIP), has been underway since 2023 and is on track to wrap up in early 2025.
Aridditive, a construction 3D printing spin-off from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and CIM UPC, In Barcelona, has closed a €500,000 Pre-Seed funding round, led by BeAble Capital with participation from Suma Capital. This backing, along with the Startup Capital support from ACCIÓ, will allow the company to accelerate the development of its concrete 3D printing technology – focused on automation, digitalization, and sustainability within the construction sector.
Researchers at New York University (NYU) have engineered a 3D printed model that recreates the nutrient-deprived conditions fostering cancer spread, or metastasis. Published in Life Science Alliance, this breakthrough model enables the direct observation of metastatic behavior in real-time, providing researchers with unprecedented insights into a critical stage in cancer progression often hidden in live patients and traditional models.
The FLEXHab space habitat, developed to train astronauts for upcoming Artemis missions at the European Space Agency (ESA), showcases an advanced use of 3D printing technology, courtesy of “superhack” Danish company WOHN. Project partners also include Prusa Research. Various state-of-the-art technologies were used to enhance crew comfort and functionality, including multiple 3D printed interior elements crafted from upcycled wood fibers and polymers.
A joint renewable energy initiative spearheaded by Fraunhofer IEE, concrete 3D printing specialist Sperra and submersible motor pump company Pleuger Industries aims to advance the efficiency of subsea energy storage. The project, called StEnSea (Stored Energy in the Sea), has received backing from both the United States and German governments, with the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) awarding $4 million to its development and the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) pledging $3.7 million.
According to the University of Maine, ground has been broken on the Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) building, a 50,000-square-foot facility designed to house the cutting-edge Factory of the Future (FoF) – incorporating digital manufacturing technologies and fully adaptive, immersive learning spaces for students at UMaine and across the University of Maine System.
Apple’s recent launch of the MacBook Pro M4 has drawn widespread attention, not only for the tech giant’s latest advancements but also for showcasing how pervasive 3D printing is in real-world applications. The launch video, unveiled by CEO Tim Cook, shows both standard polymer and large-scale construction printed components, highlighting the increasingly pervasive role of additive manufacturing (AM) in today’s design landscape. This use of 3D printing also aligns with Apple’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and technology, presenting its products as integral to a flexible, mobile, and tech-driven lifestyle.
Vinmec Times City International Hospital achieved a major milestone in Southeast Asia on September 11th, 2024, with the region’s first chest wall reconstruction using a 3D printed titanium implant.
Qwadra, the digital division of Eqwal and a global provider of digital solutions in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) sector, has formed a strategic partnership with Denmark-based Create it REAL, known for its advanced 3D printing technologies. The collaboration involves incorporating Create it REAL’s multi-patented Programmable Foam technology into Qwadra’s Sona Flex and Sona Edge 3D printers. This integration is expected to enable healthcare professionals to produce custom orthopedic devices with greater precision, speed, and material efficiency.