PrintCrete-3D printing of Sustainable Prefabricated Concrete Elements

The Printcrete project is dedicated to advancing 3D printing technology for prefabricated concrete elements, focusing on material development, refining the printing process, and implementing effective business models. By harnessing the power of digital fabrication, Printcrete aims to overcome existing constraints and enable widespread application of 3D concrete printing in the Swedish construction industry.

The Printcrete project aligns with three of the four strategic goals of Smart Built Environment. Firstly, it focuses on innovating the application of 3D printing technology by utilizing established methods from polymers and metals in the realm of concrete printing. The project emphasizes prefabricated elements over on-site printing to accelerate industrial adoption. Secondly, it addresses value chains and business models by involving stakeholders across the entire value chain and analyzing the strengths and risks associated with implementing proposed solutions. This optimization ensures market alignment and customer satisfaction. Lastly, the project aims to consolidate knowledge and skills by gathering existing dispersed knowledge and conducting real product demonstration. The selected test cases have broad applicability across sectors like buildings, infrastructure, and special applications in the construction market. While currently specialized test cases, ongoing research in digital fabrication is expected to make fewer complex components (walls, slabs etc.) competitive for production using these techniques.

This project fosters collaboration among industry, academia, and various departments within RISE: Infrastructure and Concrete Technology (IoB), Additive Manufacturing (AM), and Digital Innovation (DI).

Through this project, we are embarking on a new era of concrete printing, paving the way for a sustainable future in the Swedish construction industry.