3D printed concrete is moving closer to becoming a commercial reality with a recent agreement between global construction company Skanska and the UK's Loughborough University. According to a press release from Skanska:
The aim of the initial 18-month development programme is to develop the world’s first commercial concrete printing robot. Working with Skanska are a number of influential collaborators including Foster + Partners, Buchan Concrete, ABB and Lafarge Tarmac. As a result of this programme, Skanska aims to explore opportunities opened up by the new technology and help develop a 3D printing supply chain.
The agreement puts Skanska in a good position to capitalise on an emerging technology with the potential to revolutionise the design and construction process.
In an analysis of the agreement, Architect magazine noted:
Skanska's collaboration is one of several partnerships vying to create a commercial 3D printing robot of any variety—technology companies like Geoweaver and M-Blocks are working with universities around the country to develop machines that are changing the ways we design and build.
Want to know more about 3D printed concrete? Check out this video.
