University of Braunschweig and TU Munich receive Funding for 3D Printing in Construction

Research into 3D printing in construction at the Technical University of Braunschweig and the Technical University of Munich will be funded by the German Research Foundation for a further four years.

“The continuation of the DFG-funded collaborative research center on 3D printing in construction marks a significant step towards an innovative and sustainable future for the construction industry,” says Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig. “The research group is setting standards for excellence in construction technology and is actively shaping the transformation of the construction industry through advanced 3D printing technologies. The ongoing cooperation between the two universities not only successfully deepens transregional, interdisciplinary research, but also promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology.”

In the first funding period, the focus was on laying the foundations for the application of additive manufacturing in the construction industry, including research into various 3D printing technologies and the integration of reinforcement. In the second phase, which deals with the “big impact” of the technology, the research program will be expanded. One focus is on reducing component masses and the low-energy and low-emission production of binders, particularly in concrete construction. Clay as an earth-based material will also be included in the program with the help of innovative robotic processes.

“3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the key digital technology for the construction sector. This technology not only enables the layer-by-layer construction of components in three-dimensional form as with conventional 3D printing, but also seamlessly integrates material and manufacturing process. This means that we are rethinking construction: which material can be used to produce which component most effectively using which 3D printing process? Digitally controlled additive manufacturing processes thus open up new productive and environmentally friendly construction methods for the construction industry,” explains Professor Harald Kloft from TU Braunschweig, spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Center.

“Additive manufacturing is a scalable technology with global impact potential that enables more efficient, sustainable and customized buildings. Our sub-projects are methodologically very experimental and require highly interdisciplinary collaboration between our scientists from civil engineering, architecture and mechanical engineering,” says co-spokesperson Kathrin Dörfler from TU Munich.

The results of the AMC collaborative research center could fundamentally change the construction industry. The aim is to use 3D printing technologies to combine the requirements of economy and ecology and make construction more productive, environmentally friendly and affordable. This approach promises to lead the construction industry into a digital and sustainable future and therefore represents an important step towards an environmentally conscious society.