3D Printable Concrete
At Heidelberg Materials, we not only developed 3D mortar that is specially optimized for 3D Concrete Printing Technology, we also provide technical support, laboratory testing, and troubleshooting assistance, helping our customers enjoy the benefits of working with 3D printable concrete—like reduced waste and enhanced design freedom.
Heidelberg Materials North America, now has the evoBuild™ 3D concrete printing materials available, we draw from the —Heidelberg Materials’ global expertise on 3D printed concrete that now approaches a decade (currently exceeding 8 years). Benefit from our firm grasp of best practices, innovative techniques and our extensive materials knowledge base. Experience the assurance that comes with having a confident partner back in the laboratory and out in the field.
The benefits of 3D printed concrete
- Resilient and sustainable homes and buildings
- Reduction in material use is achieved through optimized design tailored to the specific product performances
- 100% recyclable, like concrete
- Make/print only what you need: traditional construction waste is eliminated, which is both economical and sustainable
Quicker construction
Simultaneous construction phases resulting in potential time saving of 60-70%
Versatile. Reliable. Strong.
Performance tailored to achieve strength of structural concrete, robust in different environments and available locally
Design freedom
High degree of freedom in designing construction elements
Reduction of labor cost
...but increase in talent attractiveness. From 10–12 workers to only 2–3 per house; digital job sites are highly attractive for younger generations
Improved safety
Fewer tools needed on site, lower number of people in the construction sites, reduced noise and dust
Local support with global expertise
A global network of experts, available locally
How does 3D printed concrete work and what is it used for?
3D printable concrete is a methodology that requires the sequential layering of material, starting from a digital model, in order to create tridimensional shapes. The specific advantage is that it allows the direct transfer from a 3D digital model to the final building without intermediate steps of 2D drawings/plans (Design to Print – DTP). In construction, the 3D printable concrete is mainly used to build:
- Homes
- Structural components or other pre-fabricated elements
(e.g. foundation pads, walls, connections, utility service cabins, tiny houses, bus stops, flood protection barriers, etc.)
- Urban furniture or other decorative objects (benches, vases, decorative panels, etc.)
- Multi-floor buildings
The typical printing process
1. Material Loading: Our material in super sacks or bags is loaded in the storage container (e.g. silos)
2. Mixing: Our product is mixed with water, in a horizontal chamber or mobile mixer; the water content we recommend is reported on our technical data sheet;
3. Pumping: A progressing cavity pump typically pushes the material in the hose;
4. Transportation: A hose, typically 5-40 m long (diameter 25- 50 mm), transports the material to the printing head;
5. Printing: The structure is printed following a pre-defined printing path; the printer can also be controlled remotely; different types of printers can be used (e.g. robotic arms, gantry systems or cranes).
3D printable concrete brochure
For more information on our global experience download here.