Progreso, a leader in Central and South America’s cement industry, has inaugurated Guatemala’s first-ever 3D printed building, through its corporate accelerator, Progreso X. The milestone was achieved in collaboration with Danish 3DCP Group, utilizing COBOD International’s BOD2 construction 3D printer.
The project has successfully taken steps to validate the structural viability of 3D construction printing in a seismic-prone region. The build, featuring 3m (9 feet) high 3D printed walls, was completed in just 26 printing hours, over seven days.
Due to the use of 3D printing, the house features highly organic-shaped walls that would otherwise be extremely expensive, or even unfeasible to complete with concrete blocks – the region’s predominant building material.
The 3D printed concrete walls are complemented by a “Rancho” type palm leaves roof. This roof type has been used for generations in Latin America, as it is inexpensive, provides thermal comfort, and is well-suited for seismic regions due to the flexible and lightweight nature of the material.
Manufacturing on Demand
“With immense satisfaction, we completed this unique project using 3D printing technology, once deemed distant. Progreso’s enduring spirit of innovation led us to explore new methods, culminating in a collaboratively designed building featuring a sustainable “rancho” roof, ensuring natural cooling in seismic regions. This achievement, a testament to our teamwork, harmoniously blends advanced technology with local traditions, thanks to the unwavering support of 3DCP Group and COBOD,” said Plinio Estuardo Herrera, Manager of Concrete R&D at Progreso.
The project, representing Guatemala’s entry into the world of advanced global construction methods, was achieved through a partnership with Denmark’s 3DCP Group, widely known for 3D printing the first school in Ukraine as part of the reconstruction of the country. The partners will reportedly be working on more projects in the region.
“The completion of Guatemala’s first 3D printed house living up to all seismic requirements marks a significant milestone for construction 3D printing in Latin America. The region has adopted 3D construction printing slower than others, but the interest is growing rapidly. We expect interesting new developments to happen shortly, including in Mexico, especially now that successful steps have been taken to verify the suitability of the printing technology in a seismic region,” said Philip Lund-Nielsen, Co-Founder and Head of Americas of COBOD.
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Author: Edward Wakefield
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