STRABAG and PERI complete 'Europe's first 3D printed office extension'

What is claimed to be Europe’s first 3D printed office extension has opened in Hausleiten in Austria.
Concrete Plants, Equipment & Applications / September 27, 2022
By Liam McLoughlin
The 125m2 office extension building printed by PERI with a COBOD BOD2 3D construction printer. Image: PERI
The 125m2 office extension building printed by PERI with a COBOD BOD2 3D construction printer. Image: PERI

The project is a result of a collaboration between construction technology group STRABAG and scaffolding and formwork manufacturer and 3D concrete printing company PERI. The building is a 125m2 office extension to an existing building in Hausleiten.

"The building in Hausleiten is a milestone for STRABAG, for PERI, for all involved. And a milestone for the Austrian construction industry as a whole," said Thomas Imbacher, member of the board for innovation & marketing at PERI.

"We are convinced that 3D printing of buildings will be part of the future of construction as this technology offers solutions for challenges that are currently occupying our industry: digitalisation, efficiency, shortage of skilled workers and much more."

The extension building was printed with a BOD2, the best-selling 3D construction printer globally from COBOD. The maximum printing speed of the BOD2 3D construction printer at one meter per second is claied to be the fastest in the world, and consequently the shell construction in Hausleiten was completed in around 45 hours of pure printing time.

In addition, 3D printing in general allows design freedom compared to classic concrete construction, such as architecturally appealing rounded shapes. This office building in Austria impresses with its unusual architectural form and the structures of the printed concrete are recognisable as a design element on the facade, which gives the building a special appearance in addition to the cloverleaf shape.

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, founder & general manager of COBOD International, said: “We are proud to see more and more buildings being 3D printed with our BOD2 printer as a consequence of our leading position in the market.

“Our superior technology is documented by COBOD’s technology 3D printing multiple applications other than just low-rise residential buildings, such as windmill tower bases, concrete pipe supports, schools and now an office building. We firmly believe that 3D construction printing will revolutionize the construction industry due to its ability to automate and industrialise the construction process."

In 2018 PERI Group acquired a minority stake in COBOD. Since then, both companies have worked closely together 3D construction printing technology. With the printing project in Hausleiten, the PERI 3D printing team have now successfully completed six printing projects with COBOD’s 3D construction team. These include what they state is the first 3D printed house in Germany, the first 3D printed multi-family house/apartment building in Europe and now the office extension in Hausleiten.

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