What sounded like science fiction a few years ago is now reality: a 3D-printed house was recently completed in Eindhoven, the Netherlands - the first in Europe that is also inhabited. A number of innovative projects are also underway in Germany: PERI GmbH from Weißenhorn (Neu-Ulm district) already printed Germany's first two-story single-family house and Europe's first apartment building last fall. Is this what the future of construction looks like? That's what we talked about with Frank Ilg. He heads the innovation department at PERI and is a speaker at our online event EinDruck³.
Mr. Ilg, will the housing estate of the future come from the 3D printer?
Frank Ilg: From my point of view, the housing estate of the future will be more colorful, or rather more diverse. This means that a wide variety of construction methods will be found. Also the 3D printing will find its application in this.
What requirements must be met for additive manufacturing to be used successfully in construction projects? Where are the challenges?
Frank Ilg: The challenges currently lie less in the technology, but in creating a business with the "new" technology.
What are the advantages of using additive manufacturing in construction?
Frank Ilg: The use of additive manufacturing in construction on the one hand expands the possibilities in design. structures become possible that would be difficult to realize in a classical way. On the other hand, it is a goal to save concrete through printing technology and topology-optimized structures. Likewise, we at PERI are trying to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry through this technology by adding a technological discipline to the job profile of construction.
Which printing methods are mainly used in the construction of buildings?
Frank Ilg: We use the extrusion process.
Will 3D printing replace conventional construction methods?
Frank Ilg: The customer requirements of the future will become more diverse. At PERI, we are always oriented towards the customer and must therefore also provide a more diverse range of products. I do not think that 3D concrete printing will replace the classic construction methods, but it will find and take its place alongside the classic construction methods in the future.
Thank you very much for the exciting interview. We look forward to more details at EinDruck³!
Inform and network: EinDruck³ - Innovations and Challenges in Additive Manufacturing, June 16-17, 2021
Our Online event EinDruck³ offers you the opportunity to learn about the latest topics and trends in additive manufacturing . Renowned speakers and panelists from various user industries (including Brose, EOS, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, KSB, MTU, OECHSLER, Oerlikon) will talk about the following topics:
Product and material development
Quality in the process
Future of additive manufacturing
Convince yourself and take a look right now at the program !
