ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) has developed the nation’s first 3D concrete printer, according to recent reports.
The new technology offers the potential to solve issues associated with traditional construction techniques, such as low productivity, high costs, and construction waste.
The printer, which uses a mix design similar to traditional concrete but with improved rheological qualities, can produce architectural and structural components of varying shapes.
Moreover, it also offers several benefits, including design flexibility, increased production, reduced labor, expanded research possibilities, and precise deposition.
The researchers stated that one of the most significant advantages of 3D printing of concrete, also known as additive manufacturing, was that it could lower building costs by 40 to 50 percent, making it a practical solution to the Pakistani housing deficit.
The country currently has a housing shortfall of 10 million units, which is expected to increase to 13 million by 2025.
The development of the concrete 3D printer could provide a viable solution to this problem, and the Pakistani construction industry is predicted to grow by 92%, contributing to 2.53% of the country’s GDP.
The sources added that the printer was created by Raja Dilawar Riaz, Usama Majid, Ammar Ali, and Muhammad Faizan, under the supervision of Dr. Muhammad Usman, Head of the Structures & Survey Department at the NUST Institute of Civil Engineering.
The team used locally available resources to construct the printer, making it a cost-effective option for large-scale construction projects.
The new technology was unveiled for the first time during the First International Housing & Property Expo 2022 in Islamabad, where it was presented under the topic of “Low-Cost Innovative Housing Technology” and received considerable appreciation.
