A team comprised of Danish 3D printer maker Cobod, Mexican cement company Cemex and the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) has produced the world’s largest 3D-printed building using real concrete.
The 190 sq m structure is designed as a typical Oman house, with three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and reception area.
The concrete used for the house’s walls cost €1,600, with Cobod saying the printable dry-mix mortar usually used in printed buildings would have cost upwards of €20,000.
Work on the development took place over two stages, the first of which focused on the training of the Omani crew and fine-tuning of the concrete recipe, followed by it construction over the course of five days.
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Cobod’s founder, said: “While we have been happy to help cement and concrete manufacturers develop dry-mix 3D printable mortars, we have also insisted on a solution using real concrete made from local available materials, which will be needed for the mass application of our technology.”
Juan Romero, Cemex’s executive vice president of sustainability, said: “The introduction of this revolutionary 3D-printing system is a testament to our customer-centric mindset and relentless focus on continuous innovation and improvement.
Hussain, GUtech’s acting rector, said: “Today’s display of the 3D printed building is perhaps the first step in a 1,000-mile journey. A step that will not be success without the support of all parties involved.
“In this regard, I sincerely thank all the local and international parties who contribute to supporting the centre and the university. We hope that this centre will play its part in supporting Oman’s efforts to achieve Oman’s Vision 2040.”
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