News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Emergent, a pioneer in advanced construction technology, has completed the first 3D concrete printed (3DCP) home in California. The event marks a significant milestone, with the property conforming fully to the state’s stringent building codes – the most rigorous in the United States, driven among others by regional seismic activity.
Megnajet, a UK-based fluid management specialist, has launched the JetSource HFR Core, a new fluid management system designed to meet the challenges of high-volume, inkjet printing and additive manufacturing applications.
Infrastructure is emerging as a key area of development for concrete 3D printing. Cambridge researchers, working in partnership with industry and specialist companies like Versarien, have helped develop the first 3D printed piece of concrete infrastructure to be used on a National Highways project. The 3D printed structure – a type of retaining wall known as a headwall – has been installed on the A30 in Cornwall, where it is providing real-time information thanks to Cambridge-designed sensors embedded in its structure. The sensors provide up-to-date measurements including temperature, strain and pressure. This digital twin of the wall could help spot and correct faults before they occur.
According to Gulf News, the Dubai Municipality has officially announced the issuance of the first construction license for a privately-owned villa utilizing 3D printing technology. The villa, to be situated in the Al Awir 1 sector of Dubai, will be fabricated in one continuous printing process, as per the municipality.
Hive3D Builders, a construction 3D printing company, has developed a carbon-neutral alternative to traditional cement – offering the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions associated with construction. This novel printing material, which replaces the usual mortar in 3D concrete printing, can reportedly cut down CO2 emissions by a remarkable 93%. The development holds the promise of making the already eco-friendly method of additive manufacturing even more sustainable, with the potential to revolutionize the global construction industry.
Amnovis, an additive manufacturing production and engineering company based in Belgium, has produced a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Master File.
14Trees, a joint venture between Holcim and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, launched a new construction-ready 3D printer, the Iroko. The new machine, which externally looks very similar to other existing systems, looks to improve construction speed, cost, and flexibility – scaling up digital automation to build resilient and affordable housing, education infrastructure and commercial real estate worldwide.
3D Systems and Oerlikon AM have entered a collaboration agreement to further scale metal additive manufacturing. Combining both organizations’ deep process and applications expertise with 3D Systems’ Direct Metal Printing platform and Oerlikon AM’s surface engineering capabilities will enable a faster path to market for applications in high-criticality industries such as semiconductor and aerospace.
Lithoz GmbH, a leader in ceramic 3D printing, and New York-based biomaterials specialist Himed have entered into a long-term partnership, joining forces in further driving innovation and research into the 3D printing of medical-grade bioceramics.
CyBe Construction, a leading provider of 3D concrete printers, and the South African Housing & Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF) have joined forces in a collaboration aimed at tackling the pressing housing shortage in South Africa. The joint effort will leverage innovative 3D concrete printing technology to deliver faster, cheaper, and more sustainable homes. This strategic cooperation comes in response to the urgent need for affordable housing, and represents a significant step toward achieving the United Nations’ goal of providing safe and accessible housing for all by 2030.