­Living in 3D printing

Together with colleagues, Prof. Viktor Mechtcherine, Director of the Institute of Construction Materials at the TUD, has been working on 3D printing for more than ten years. "Right from the start, we wanted to create something practical for the construction industry," recalls Mechtcherine. The printer should not only be automated, digital and mobile, but also use inexpensive ready-mixed concrete as "ink".

Concrete printers, which look like smaller versions of gantry cranes at the port, have been in use around the world for several years now. However, these machines require complex assembly and are larger than what they print.

The groundbreaking innovation from Prof. Mechtcherine and his team, on the other hand, is flexible and quickly ready for use: "We developed the idea of a mobile printer based on a modern concrete pump." The concept was ready in 2016 and received an innovation award at bauma - the most important trade fair for construction machinery. Based on this concept, Putzmeister built the KARLOS printer and successfully printed its first objects.

The process is unique in the world: "A Saxon success story," explains Prof. Mechtcherine. The scientists at TU Dresden are global leaders in the field of concrete printing technology. This pioneering branch of research makes resource-saving, time-efficient and significantly less labor-intensive construction methods practicable. This is how the demanding housing markets of tomorrow can be met. "We cannot afford to think conservatively in the construction industry - we need innovations to be implemented quickly," says Prof. Viktor Mechtcherine with conviction.

                                                                                                          (Source: www.saechsische.de)

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