Oldcastle APG recently partnered with New Standard Homes Inc in Texas, to test the application of 3D printing for the construction of three new residential homes.
Amerimix, an Oldcastle APG brand, provided a bespoke mortar mix, formulated specifically for the gantry-style 3D printer used, pre-blended and bagged for even greater efficiency. The build team on site used nearly 150 3,000-lb. bulk bags of the 3D Printing Mortar Mix.
During the 3D construction process, concrete paste is extruded in a precise and controlled manner based on a digital 3D model, with the machine printing walls in continuous passes leading to a superior build quality. Compared with traditionally constructed houses, 3D printed homes reduce waste, resource and energy use, and speed up construction time significantly.
In fact, the first test home of 1,200 sq. ft. took approximately six weeks to print, with subsequent 1,500 sq. ft. homes completed in 3 to 3.5 weeks, following continuous optimization of machine setup, layer time and printing speed. And according to New Standard Homes, the ultimate goal is to print one house per week.
This demonstration of automation and use of technology marks a significant step forward in addressing the need for more affordable, efficient, and high-quality housing and is a prime example of how CRH is developing sustainable solutions that build, connect and improve our world.
