News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
After a long chase and thanks to some of the people behind Chattanooga’s vibrant manufacturing startup scene, we had a chance to catch up with David Fuehrer, Director of Sales & New Business Development at Branch Technology. We spoke about the projects behind one of the hottest construction 3D printing startups, Branch Technology, how C-FAB technology is turning them into reality.
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Based in Slovenia, BetAbram is one of the companies that pioneered commercial house 3D printing and construction 3D printers. The company started working on printers in 2012 and since then continued to develop its cutting-edge technology. Up to date news on the company’s projects are not so easy to come by, but we were able to catch up with BetAbram’s CEO, René Kreissel, to find out about their most ongoing projects and business outlook.
In this new report, SmarTech outlines all the major technologies, hardware, materials and applications that will usher the traditional construction industry into a new, digitalized era. The report goes on to identify and quantify the specific commercial opportunities presented by the implementation of AM technologies in terms of hardware, materials, software and AM construction services associated demand and revenues. According to the report, this activity is expected to grow into a $4 billion yearly business opportunity for hardware manufacturers and a highly profitable segment for construction material producers that choose to add digital manufacturing services to their core business.
The Dutch construction 3D printing tradition – which began as a large-scale experiment with the 3D Printed Canal House in 2013 – is living on through Aectual. The Amsterdam-based technology company launched a sustainably produced 3D printed floor with terrazzo infill at the latest Dutch Design Week. Aectuals’ smart manufacturing technology makes it possible to custom 3D print any design on large surfaces, where each square meter is unique. It’s not going to make a 3D printed airport floor.
Construction 3D printing is literally taking off and one company – more than many others involved – is taking digital, additive building practices from concept to reality. Winsun’s President and CEO, Ma Yihe, has always maintained that one of the biggest challenges that need to be overcome is lack of industry awareness since the benefits of using 3D printing technologies for construction have been widely established. The company has now set out to start a 3D printed public toilets revolution nationwide as well as a 3D printed bus stop revolution starting in Fengjing Ancient Town, Jinshan, a popular cultural town in China.
Part of the Horizon 2020 framework, the €4.8 million EU’s HINDCON (Hybrid INDustrial CONstruction) project aims to adapt additive manufacturing technologies to the construction sector. One of the primary goals of the project is the development of an “all-in-one” system advancing towards industrialization and overcoming the limitations of actual approach for introducing Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing in construction activities. The project, which started in 2016, has a duration of 36 months and will see the participation of France’s construction 3D printing experts XtreeE, among others.
Construction 3D printing using cement materials has been at the center of a few experiments in recent years. Commercial applications have been centered mainly in China, Russia and wealthy Middle East nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In Europe most activities are University-based, with advanced projects at Iaac in Barcelona and ETH in Zurich. One commercial project is now close to being completed in Denmark, and another one is now getting underway in the Netherlands: the 3D printed hotel building by De Vergaderfabriek.
Cement-based construction 3D printing is finding commercial applications in more and more segments. After bridges and houses, it is now time for a 3D printed bar, inside Shanghai’s newest and gigantic Starbuck’s Coffee. This is the first non-US roastery concept store and also the world’s largest Starbucks, not to mention the first (particularly) 3D printed Starbucks in the world.
Last September, Danish 3D printer reseller 3D Printhuset broke ground on the first European 3D printed house in Copenhagen. Just two months later the structure, including the foundation, is almost complete. The initial 3D printing of Europe’s first 3D printed building, the 3D Printhuset Bod, has been extensively covered by Danish as well as international media. Several Danish TV and radio channels were on site to cover the event live, and their footage was later used by the international media. 3D construction printing represents a clear disruption of the construction sector, which has remained virtually unchanged by the digital revolution happening elsewhere.