On January 9, 2025, according to the Resource Library, Europe’s first social housing project built using 3D printing technology was completed ahead of schedule. The construction period of this project is only 132 days, 35% shorter than traditional construction methods. This is a significant advancement for 3D printing technology in the construction industry.
Located on a local street in Ireland, the project was built by Harcourt Technologies, a 3D printing construction company based in Ireland and the UK, to the latest ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 additive manufacturing standards.
The project uses Danish3D Construction Printing Technology SupplierCOBOD’s BOD2 3D construction printer prints to EN206 and European standards for unreinforced masonry structures, printing double-cavity load-bearing walls with a thickness of 10cm without the need for steel reinforcement. The main structure of the project was completed in just 12 days, fully demonstrating the benefits of 3D printing to speed up construction and improve efficiency. In addition, this new construction method not only guarantees the structural safety of the building, but also achieves great progress in energy saving and environmental protection.
The National Standards Institute of Ireland (NSAI) awarded Harcourt the “Standards Innovation Award” for his innovative contribution to the field of architectural 3D printing. Geraldine Larkin, CEO of NSAI, praised: “This award demonstrates HTL.tech’s success in integrating international standards into the 3D printing construction process and places Ireland at the forefront of this field thanks to technological innovation.
Once the project was completed, Harcourt further upgraded the equipment and increased the diameter of the BOD2 printer’s concrete delivery pipe to 65mm. This improvement increases concrete production efficiency by 40%, reducing printing time from 12 days to 9 days for similar future projects. This significantly reduces construction costs, speeds up construction and complies with international construction standards.
The success of this project demonstrates the enormous potential of 3D printing technology in actual construction and sets an important benchmark for promoting the digitalization and sustainable development of the construction sector in the future.
We also hope that 3D printing technology can move more quickly from the laboratory to practical applications, providing more possibilities for the construction industry.
