3D printing buildings in Europe has seen a steady process this year. Denmark’s 3D Printhuset has only just laid the foundations for its project, and BatiPrint3D is completing its first 3D printed social housing unit for the City of Nantes. Russia’s Apis Cor 3D, which has successfully 3D printed a number of structures, is currently dealing with the problem of printing horizontal roof and floor surfaces on site.
Cazza has produced several renders of a 3D printer for construction, but as of yet nothing concrete has been built by the illusive company.
Overtec, an Austrian construction supplier and 3D printing service bureau has placed ambitions of 3D printing entire structures to one side. Instead, Overtec is using 3D printing to compliment traditional construction processes by 3D printing individual complex layered components to be installed on buildings and shop floors.
Shapes and spaces
Overtec, which develops, manufactures and sells finished parts to construction companies is now adding 3D printing services to its services. Set to be available by 2018, the 3D printed products currently under development include shaft, parapet and surface elements, and interior installations.
3D printing these elements affords an architect greater creative freedom in building shapes, and construction companies save on material costs. Additionally, the 3D printed interior elements on offer will enable a more efficient use of space.
A process still under construction
For its operations, Overtec is using a 1.8 tonne in-house 3D printer, fixed to a robotic arm supported on a gantry. Printing is currently at a test stage while the process is developed at Overtec’s Attnang-Puchheim workshop.
CEO Sebastian Hilscher states that “with 3D printing, we want to offer the architecture new design possibilities at an attractive price: in the 3D printer, it makes no difference whether we are producing straight or flexible shapes”.
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Featured image shows CEO Sebastian Hilscher with the 3D printer and a printed structure. Photo via Overtec.
