3D Printer "builds" 10 houses in 24 hours

Chinese construction companies are famous for quickly building large real estate projects. However, there is one in particular that is breaking all records.

In Shanghai, Winsun New Materials has built 10 houses in just 24 hours, using an innovative and gigantic 3D printer on which invested 20 million Yuan (€ 2.32 million) and 12 years of development.

Despite a more recent spread, 3D printers have been around for over a decade, mostly used to make models, prototypes, plane parts, shoes, jewelry or other small items. The printing involves an additive process, wherein successive layers of material are laid over each other to create a finished product.

The printer used by Winsun New Materials measures 150 meters long, 10 meters wide and over 6 meters high, using successive layers of glass fibers and cement to produce walls and other building elements. In addition to the simplicity and speed of this building process, the company also reveals that it can save about half the costs when compared to traditional construction methods. They managed to print out 10 houses for less than € 3.500 each, which allows considering this project as a possible solution to the increasing need for low cost housing in China.

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Acknowledging the strict environmental policies recently implemented in China, the company also intends to build 100 recycling factories for scrap material left over from construction and mining sites, transforming it in 3D printing materials to use in future buildings, which would further reduce construction costs.

Hopefully this technology can contribute to providing quick and affordable housing for disadvantaged populations or in emergency circumstances.

More at: 3dprinting.com