FCC

Europe’s first 3D printed workspace expansion is complete

2022-09-23

Globally the building and construction industry is looking at ways and methods to innovate the process of construction itself. Among the different methods adopted 3D printing is pretty much in vogue. The latest stride Europe has taken in workspace design using a 3D printer comes from Austria. The building is a 125 m2 office extension to an existing building based in Hausleiten. The feat which is being seen as a milestone by the Austrian construction industry is a result of a collaboration between the construction technology group STRABAG and the scaffolding and formwork manufacturer and 3D concrete printing pioneer PERI.

In addition to the cloverleaf shape, this office building in Austria impresses with its distinctive architectural form and the structures of the printed concrete are discernible as a design element on the facade. Thomas Imbacher, Member of the Board for Innovation & Marketing at PERI SE. "We are convinced that 3D printing of buildings will be part of the future of construction as this technology offers solutions for challenges that are currently occupying our industry: digitalization, efficiency, shortage of skilled workers and much more."

The most popular 3D construction printer worldwide from COBOD, the BOD2, was used to produce the addition building. The BOD2 3D building printer has the quickest maximum printing speed in the world—one meters per second—and as a result, the Hausleiten shell construction was finished in just 45 hours of solely printing time.

Commenting on the development Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder & General Manager of COBOD International, said: “We are proud to see more and more buildings being 3D printed with our BOD2 printer as a consequence of our leading position in the market. We firmly believe that 3D construction printing will revolutionize the construction industry due to its ability to automate and industrialize the construction process”.