Top 10: 3D Construction Printing Companies
Additive manufacturing – better known as 3D printing – enables firms to print structures through concrete extrusion, a form of 3D concrete printing that uses a nozzle to extrude layers of concrete to build complex structures. This can reduce labour costs by between 50-80% and construction time by up to 60%.
3D printing is ideal for off-site prefabrication and on-site construction. The process minimises waste through precision material usage, with studies showing a 30% reduction in concrete consumption versus standard methods. The method suits social housing programmes due to speed and cost efficiency. Material innovations include recycled concrete mixes and carbon-fibre reinforced polymers.
A number of major construction companies are invested in the 3D concrete printing process:
- Saint-Gobain (France): having acquired a stake in XtreeE, a 3D concrete printing company, is focusing on developing 3D-printed building materials and components.
- Holcim Group (Switzerland): partnered with XtreeE to develop 3D-printed concrete solutions, is investing in research to create specialised 3D printing materials.
- Bouygues Construction (France): collaborating with Dassault Systèmes and XtreeE on 3D-printed building projects, is focusing on integrating 3D printing into traditional construction methods.
- Skanska (Sweden): has collaborated with Loughborough University on 3D concrete printing technology, to invest in research to develop 3D-printed building components and structures.
The following are among the leading 3D printing companies and 3D-printer manufacturers that service the construction sector.
10 Constructions-3D
Constructions-3D is a French company that has been designing machines that produce 3D concrete printing structures since 2017. It has developed several machines including The MaxiPrinter, the MiniPrinter PRO, the MiniPrinter EDU and the Constructimètre. It can also provide adapted materials according to the objective of its customers.
The concrete 3D printing process is based on an automation and repeatability system, which also ensures precision.
09 Mighty Buildings
Mighty Buildings is a company that says "we understand construction needs to become more sustainable to better benefit the planet". By using innovative 3D printing, robotics and automation, it builds customisable home kits with, it claims, 99% less waste and a lower carbon footprint than traditionally constructed homes.
The company’s goal is to produce fully carbon-neutral houses by 2028, which is projected to be 22 years ahead of the construction industry. It has been working towards zero-waste production, kit system design, and a unique concrete-free formula to create design-forward homes while reducing time, costs, and emissions.
08 CyBe Construction
CyBe has developed hardware, software, building materials and learning platforms to become a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all things concrete 3D printing. Aiming to lead in innovation, CyBe Construction offer 3D concrete printing solutions and continually aim to develop mobile and modular technology.
The company changes complex building processes to deliver affordable products faster and in a more sustainable way. It also uses fewer raw materials and minimal transportation. CyBe Construction offers 3D concrete printing as an innovative solution to builders of affordable housing, with cheaper, faster and more sustainable construction.
07 SQ4D
SQ4D builds full-size concrete houses and commercial structures using 3D printing technology, and aims to be faster, safer, and stronger, with minimal cost.
The company has recently listed for sale the first 3D printed home in the United States, using SQ4D’s revolutionary Max Autonomous Robotic Construction System (ARCS), which is the first 3D printed home to receive a certificate of occupancy. The company built the home in 80 hours and it was listed at $299,000, which was below the area's median price.
06 XtreeE
XtreeE designs and manufactures large-scale 3D printers and has developed strong expertise in the field of large-scale manufacturing for construction, both on the technological and product design sides. Its research and development-oriented system is based on a medium-scale robot and control and supervision software developed by the company itself.
The company enables high quality custom robotic configurations, with real time process monitoring and post-printing analysis. This ensures that additional measurement features can be constantly developed by XtreeE and therefore adapted to specific user needs.
05 WASP
3D printing by WASP materialises objects made with bio-plastic, clay, silicone and biocompatible materials, which mills wood and aluminium. The aim of the company is to build ‘zero-mile’ homes using materials found in the surrounding area. Its aim is to use renewable energies such as sun, wind and water.
In 2018 Wasp introduced Crane WASP, a collaborative 3D printing system able to print houses. The WASP project studies, realises and sponsors eco-friendly systems that understand that a house is a primary need and a right. It suggests a process to actualise houses with a very low price.
04 Peri 3D Construction
PERI’s construction printing aims to revolutionise the construction industry due to its ability to expedite the industrialisation of the construction process. Wanting to build a greater number of buildings in a short period of time at low cost is a great benefit to this type of technology, but can also pave the way for greater sustainability in construction.
In May 2023, it was announced that PERI would be partnering with Krause Group to build a 3D printed data centre building in Heidelberg, Germany. It is set to be the ‘largest 3D-printed building in Europe’ from the end of 2023.
03 COBOD International
COBOD is a world leader in 3D construction printing solutions. The company constantly aims to improve its printing speed, efficiency, labour need and material cost to challenge conventional construction. With over 50 3D printers sold, COBOD helps to lead the way in 3D construction printing.
It has recently been announced, as reported by 3D Printing Industry, that COBOD’s BOD2 3D printer is being used to construct the first 3D printed school in Lviv, Ukraine. The project has been anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2023, representing a significant milestone in European construction.
02 Apis Cor
Apis Cor is an award-winning construction technology company continuing to make huge progress in the housing construction industry, particularly concerning concrete 3D printing technology. The company uses robotic printers, named Frank, Gary and Mary, to ensure that building is consistent and easy.
The company designed and successfully tested 3D printed concrete walls as comparable to concrete block walls which are structurally reinforced. Its proprietary concrete material is 33% stronger than concrete block material, according to the company website.
As reported by Yahoo Finance, Apis Cor seeks to introduce automation to the construction industry, providing builders with the technology to increase productivity, speed up construction times, and work towards a goal of building low-rise buildings robotically to meet the high demand for housing.
01 ICON
ICON’s 3D-printed, high-performance homes feature elevated architectural and energy efficient designs that showcase resiliency and sustainability with plenty of the digital possibilities of construction. The company provides plenty of online resources concerning home construction with 3D printers, in addition to sharing the possibilities of off-world construction.
The building completed by the company is delivered at speed using a fleet of ICON’s Vulcan robotic construction systems, software and advanced materials, with each interior and exterior wall of the home produced with less waste and more design freedom. The Vulcan construction system consists of the Vulcan printer and the Magma portable mixing unit that prepares ICON’s proprietary building material, Lavacrete, for printing.
Hardware is driven by the company’s BuildOS software suite, which generates and prepares architecture for printing, then controls the robotic hardware on-site to turn digital plans into physical homes.
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