News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
QOROX, a construction company in New Zealand, has become an authorized reseller of 3D concrete printers from CyBe Construction, a Dutch leader in 3D concrete printing hardware, software, and materials. This partnership strengthens the growing interconnectedness in the additive manufacturing industry and aims to spread advanced 3D construction technology across New Zealand and Australia.
3D printing stands for progress in construction like hardly any other process. It not only enables the implementation of individual geometries and components made of concrete that would not be possible with conventional formwork technology but also optimizes production processes and accelerates the digitization process in the construction industry. The construction of a 3D printed tiny house in North Rhine-Westphalia by MENSE KORTE also highlights the use of more sustainable building materials for printing.
RENCA, a pioneer in sustainable geopolymer materials for construction 3D printing, has set a significant milestone in the construction industry by using their zero-cement geopolymer 3D printing mortar in the construction of the world’s first 3D printed geopolymer house. The sustainability of construction materials and methods is a major global concern, given the significant pollution contributed by these elements. With emerging technologies such as 3D printing, new possibilities for reducing environmental impact are arising. This technology not only offers unparalleled freedom in design but also lessens the waste produced and the materials required.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With a new project that showcases 3D construction printing’s potential beyond low-rise residential housing, utilizing COBOD‘s BOD2 printer, PERI started working on Europe’s first 3D printed public building: a football clubhouse. The 330 sqm (3.550 sq ft) structure of the SC Capelle football clubhouse has 2 floors and will be printed in 140 hours.