Using a COBOD BOD2 printer, Printed Farms created the first 3D-printed building in Florida, paving the way for change in construction.
Rising costs and sustainability issues continue to plague the construction industry. While modular construction is a promising solution for reducing waste and costs, 3D printing is emerging as another option. Printed Farms, a Florida-based start-up, hopes its recent accomplishment of 3D printing the first building in Florida will push this technology into the mainstream.
“The construction industry is the world’s largest industry and one that has not been impacted by a technology revolution,” said Fredrik Wannius, Printed Farms co-founder. “We are here to change that. With our large BOD2 printer, we can build safer homes, at competitive rates. Using COBOD’s 3D construction technology and BluePrintz, our innovative building method, we are aiming to significantly reduce the cost of building and getting ready to put the system in the hands of contractors.”
A 784-square-foot storage unit was created thanks to COBOD’s BOD2 printer, which is 50 feet wide, 42 feet long and 33 feet high. The final stages for completing the storage unit included reinforcing it with rebar and insulating foam, which helped it pass a structural engineer’s inspection with flying colors. With the first small project finished, Printed Farms is preparing to use the BOD2 to complete 2,000-square-foot floors for a 6,000-square foot, three-story building and is still in the planning phase for two intracoastal villas.
The giant printer was the first sold in the U.S. by COBOD, a European turn-key supplier of 3D construction printing equipment and solutions.
“We are seeing a strong interest from the U.S. market and have three more printers on the way to the U.S. this year,” said Henrik Lund-Nielsen, COBOD founder and general manager. “The U.S. is short of affordable quality housing, and we have the technology to deliver precisely that in a fast and economical way using much less labor, than alternative methods.”
The BOD2 made a big splash in Europe, Africa, and India in 2020. It was used to print the first three-story apartment complex in Germany, the first concrete windmill tower for GE, and the first two-story 3D-printed buildings in India, among other firsts. The printer’s proven track record is a good fit with Printed Farms’ goal to make 3D printing a construction standard, especially in locales like Florida that need hurricane- and flood-resistant buildings.
What makes BOD2 a great solution for the rising affordable housing shortage and increased construction costs? Aside from the reduction in waste and associated costs, the BOD2 offers features that boost production times while ensuring a high-quality print. A few include:
- Surface Mapping Tool: The printer automatically compensates for uneven surfaces for each layer by measuring the distance to the foundation to create a height map, ensuring a level top wall.
- Open Material Platform: The printer was specifically designed to accommodate various materials. Its extruder has the capability for 10mm aggregates, allowing for use with real concrete.
- Tangential Nozzle Control: A redesigned nozzle allows for smoothing and texturing walls whenever needed, which reduces post-treatment and water evaporation.
Interested in other 3D-printed structures? Check out California Startup Will 3D Print a Modern Home in 24 Hours and 3D Printing a Floating House in 48 Hours.
