A partnership between New-Zealand’s local technology company QOROX and Dutch technology provider CyBe Construction has brought the first robot to 3D print concrete objects on a commercial scale to the Morth Island city of Hamilton.
QOROX is a cutting-edge technology company aiming to revolutionize the construction industry in New Zealand by introducing additive manufacturing and Construction 4.0 “without breaking the bank”.
The in-house developed and manufactured 3D concrete printers by CyBe in the Netherlands are used in Construction 4.0. With this technology the complex building processes are being simplified and it is possible to build faster, more sustainably and more affordably, with a higher quality.
QOROX’s building systems and processes are setting a new standard for building quality, efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability which dramatically reduces construction timeframes in New Zealand.
Together with Hamilton City Council they are working on the creation of 3D concrete printed park benches, which will be the first example of this construction technique in the country.
The 2.8 m long benches are a bespoke waka design created by Boffa Miskell landscape architects. It was printed by QOROX’s 3D printer in just over 30 minutes. QOROX Director Wafaey Swelim said Hamilton City Council has supported the company’s 3D-printed concrete innovation from day one.
Manufacturing on Demand
“When I told [Chief Executive] Richard Briggs about the 3D printer and its potential for building things in a smarter way, he immediately said, ‘we’re in’,” he said. “This is the first robot 3Dprinter of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. It can print the walls of an average house in one week at speeds of up to 4.5m2 an hour.”
Boffa Miskell Landscape Architect Frazer Baggaley said: “Working with 3D printed concrete was an opportunity to push past the boundaries of the typical production process. The benches will emerge as a single, seamless object in less than an hour each, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the design brought to life.”
Chief Executive Richard Briggs is proud Hamilton and Council are part of the ground-breaking engineering initiative. “This is just further proof that Hamilton is a tech-savvy city, a hub for innovation and a leader on the world stage,” he commented. “For our organization, this is an example of our commitment to thinking differently and trying new ways of delivering the infrastructure and services we provide our community.
“This is an exciting project and it’s awesome that Hamiltonians will be able to come and see a small piece of history being made at the demonstration and enjoy the results at the Hayes Paddock playground for many, many years,” Mr. Briggs concluded.
The robot, imported by QOROX from CyBe, can build any concrete structure, including elements for houses, commercial buildings, retaining walls, and landscape features such as planters, sculptures and picnic tables,
For the 10-days hand-on training for QOROX, CyBe CEO and founder Berry Hendriks and two technicians flew across the globe (and quarantined for two weeks).
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Author: Davide Sher
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