Concrete 3D printing facility opens

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

The Emirate of Dubai has now one step ahead to start a number of projects made by concrete 3D printing that aim to save cost, manpower, modern design and innovative architectural marvels with the opening of a new concrete 3D printing facility.

The Concreative, founded by the Freyssinet civil engineering company (Vinci Construction Group), has inaugurated a new large-scale additive manufacturing unit in Dubai: an integrated design, production and installation service of 3D printed architectural and structural elements.

Talking to Gulf Today Khalil Doghri, General Manager Concreative LLC said that the facility has been installed at an estimated cost of Dhs6 million as the firm has already carried out many innovative 3D printing projects for the Government of Dubai.

“With the setting up full-scale concrete 3D printing facility in Dubai we are now one step closer to achieve the target set up by the government. In 2016, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai had launched a specific 3D printing strategic plan. The announced objective is to build 25% of the Emirate’s new buildings using 3D printers by 2030 and to propel Dubai to the rank of global 3D printing centre by the end of the next decade,” he said.

Besides working with a number of government departments, Concreative has also engaged to manufacture a number objects for Expo 2020. “The 2020 Universal Exhibition which will be held in Dubai from Oct 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021, will be firmly turned towards the future. The 3D printing, digitisation, robotics as well as sustainable building will be at the heart of the exhibition,” he added.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the representatives of Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Municipality, engineers, architects and others.

“Concrete 3D printing is thus moving to an industrial scale on the UAE particularly thriving and proactive market. By making this tool available to the market, Concreative is releasing architects from the constraints imposed by standard formwork. They now have the means to design and produce complex concrete architectural and structural elements. This new technology also heralds projects that consume less raw materials, are more reactive, cleaner, quieter, less gruelling and much safer,” he said.