LafargeHolcim innovate with 3D concrete printing
Company enters into partnership with start-up firm specializing in large-scale 3D printing
LafargeHolcim have entered into a partnership with the French start-up firm XtreeE, who specialize in the development of large-scale 3D printing systems. The alliance has made it possible, for the first time in Europe, to market a concrete structural element created using a 3D printer.
Bringing the digital revolution to the construction industry, 3D printing allows complex geometric structures to be created at a reasonable cost and with shorter production times than traditional techniques.
LafargeHolcim say they have identified three potential markets: high value-added architecture; the individual construction of affordable homes; and the robotic construction of prefabricated building elements.
Teams at the company’s R&D centre in L’Isle d’Abeau, near Lyon, France, have leveraged their scientific and technological expertise to design a range of experimental concrete mixes suitable for 3D printing.
The company has developed and provided materials designed specifically for the creation of two different 3D printed structures:
- A 4m high load-bearing post printed by XtreeE and assembled by Fehr Architectural, being used to support the playground roof of a middle school in Aix-en-Provence – the first 3D printed structural element to be marketed in Europe
- A pavilion created on behalf of the Ile-de-France regional authority using a revolutionary design, the fruit of a collaborative project bringing together XtreeE, Dassault Systèmes, ABB and LafargeHolcim.
LafargeHolcim say these advances underscore their commitment to delivering innovative solutions that create value for their customers.
‘Innovation is part of our DNA in order to respond to the trends in tomorrow’s construction market,’ said Gérard Kuperfarb, group head of growth and innovation at LafargeHolcim. ‘We are, therefore, proud to be positioned as a pioneer in 3D printing, a revolutionary technique that brings greater accuracy while considerably reducing construction times.’
