News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Mega retailer Walmart has commissioned what is being recognized as one of the largest free-standing 3D printed commercial building in the United States. The large-scale construction 3D printing project, which spans nearly 8,000 square feet and is nearly 20 feet tall, was carried out in partnership with Colorado-based Alquist 3D, which specializes in robotic concrete 3D printing.
UCC Holding, a leading construction and infrastructure company in Qatar, has signed a contract with COBOD, Denmark’s top manufacturer of concrete 3D printers, to supply the world’s largest third-generation 3D printers which will be used to build schools in Qatar. The signing ceremony took place in Doha with Mr. Ramez Al Khayyat, President of UCC Holding, and Mr. Henrik Lund-Nielsen, CEO and Founder of COBOD, along with other dignitaries and key stakeholders.
Hotelier Liz Lambert and ICON, a leading construction 3D printing company, have begun building the first 3D printed hotel and residences in Marfa, Texas. Designed by the BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the relocation, and expansion of El Cosmico to a 60+ acre property will showcase entirely new architectural approaches made possible by large-scale 3D printing including domes, arches, vaults, and parabolic forms. The development will feature El Cosmico guest accommodations, new hospitality programming (including a pool, bathhouse, and restaurant), and private residences.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa) is showcasing a new exhibit, A PLACE meant, which uses elements of large-scale construction 3D printing courtesy of New Jersey company Black Buffalo in an effort to showcase new and efficient methods of tackling displacement and affordable housing challenges in Cleveland. The exhibit is a joint effort from I_You Design Lab, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit collective made up of artists, makers, and designers, and Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM).
Czech industrial automation firm ICE, which has developed its own 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) technology, is reportedly in the process of constructing an upper station for a cable car in the mountainous municipality of Kopřivná. The station, whose design is based on a concept by architecture studio ATELIER3M, will become the largest publicly accessible 3D printed building in Europe.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have pioneered a revolutionary robotic additive manufacturing technique – which they called impact printing – aimed at transforming the construction industry by using circular, low-carbon materials. This new method represents a significant leap forward in sustainable construction.
According to Princeton University, researchers have taken inspiration from nature to improve crack resistance in concrete components using 3D printing. In an article, titled ‘Tough Double-Bouligand Architected Concreteitious Material using Robotic Additive Manufacturing’, published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers, led by Reza Moini, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Princeton, describe how their designs increased resistance to cracking by as much as 63% compared to conventional cast concrete.
The Concrete Products and Aggregate (CPAC), a subsidiary of SCG, and Samsung E&A, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a cooperation focussed on construction 3D printing and special cementitious materials commercialization opportunities. This collaboration combines the strengths of Samsung E&A from South Korea, which specializes in comprehensive international construction, with CPAC’s excellence in cement and concrete products and technology. CPAC, under SCG, has been in the construction materials industry for over a century.
In recent years, the use of large format polymer 3D printing technology in architecture has rapidly evolved, pushing the boundaries of design and sustainability. Dutch company Aectual perfectly embodies this transition and it’s latest project, the recently renovated BOSS store at İstinye Park in Istanbul, is a striking example of this trend, featuring an innovative 3D printed facade that not only serves as a bold aesthetic statement but also underscores a commitment to sustainable design.
Serendix, a Japanese 3D printer housing company (construction 3D printing service provider), has acquired three new printers, significantly expanding its printing capabilities and aiming to double its production volume.