Recent developments in 3D printing that are revolutionizing the Indian construction industry
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The Indian construction industry faces a major labor shortage challenge; thus, increasing productivity with emerging technologies like 3D printing is gaining attraction. The factors responsible for construction 3D printing growth are raising environmental concerns regarding waste generated by construction, the possibility of customization and flexibility by using this technology, and the rapid creation of models and prototypes. Many startups, research institutes, and governments are interested in using 3D printing technology for low-cost housing and sustainable construction.
Mostly used 3D printing technologies in the construction industry are Robotic arm extruders, sand 3D printing, and metal technology. Robots will create the structure layer after layer in robotic arm extruders by injecting concrete mix from the injector. In sand 3D printing, structures are created with sand layers instead of concrete.
Recent developments in construction 3D printing:
- Recently Indian army also invested in 3D printing technology, aiming to rapidly manufacture houses for its soldiers in the South-Western Air Command in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The project’s chief engineer is well familiar with 3D printing technology and will be working with Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions to build these planned houses. Under this project, India’s defense infrastructure development agency MES (military engineering services) built two houses in Gandhinagar and Jaisalmer in March 2022. The houses deployed within 35 days, and the quick turnaround time is fuelling the market growth of 3D printing. Indian army initiated this revolutionary technology into the defense space.
- India Cements has partnered with Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, an IIT Madras startup, to promote sustainability in construction in May 2022. This collaboration enables both companies will work closely on research and development and exchange technologies to develop new raw material formulations used in 3D printing. Tvasta and India Cements will mutually support each other in their key projects to reduce cost and time. The two companies Tvasta & India Cements, have already started working together on some projects and reduced the usage of sand and water by 30% with 3D printing construction.
- In January 2022, researchers from IIT Guwahati developed a new 3D printing technology to reduce concrete usage by 75%. They have developed cementitious mix compositions that are compliant with 3D printing and used local industrial waste to make construction materials to manufacture 3D urban furniture.
- National strategy for 3D printing technology in India is launched in February 2022 byMinistry of Electronics and Information Technology to encourage collaboration among government, academia, and industry. The major goal of this strategy is to make India a global hub for design, development, and deployment in 3D printing.
- IIT Bombay, a prestigious research institute, has recently bought a 3D printer from a Belgaum-based startup Deltasys E-Forming for its research lab in Civil Engineering. Faculty and students can use this 3D printer for conducting research and development activities to develop compatible & sustainable materials. However, the research is still at an institutional level soon. Government agencies can adapt it while creating relevant schemes or making important policy decisions and funding related to the construction sector.
The accelerating demand for 3D printing globally is due to the easy manufacturing of concrete 3D printers compared to metal 3D printers. Hence, startups entering into construction 3D printing are growing gradually. The recent developments in the country are providing lucrative growth opportunities for 3D printing to become mainstream construction technology in the coming years.
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