{"id":13553,"date":"2024-11-03T20:07:23","date_gmt":"2024-11-03T20:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/could-3d-concrete-printing-be-the-future-of-retail-construction\/"},"modified":"2024-11-03T20:07:23","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T20:07:23","slug":"could-3d-concrete-printing-be-the-future-of-retail-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/could-3d-concrete-printing-be-the-future-of-retail-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"Could 3D Concrete Printing be the Future of Retail Construction?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/online-workshops-list\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-496\" src=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png\" alt=\"Retail Online Training\" width=\"729\" height=\"91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png 729w, https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90-300x37.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px\" \/><\/a><\/p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Imagine concrete extruded from a computer-controlled nozzle, rather like an enormous pastry icer \u201cbuilding\u201d a layer cake. This is how 3D concrete printing (3DCP) works. It\u2019s real and it has the potential to lower construction labor costs, time and materials waste. As the technology continues to advance, it also offers the possibility of greater design flexibility via the creation of complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible with traditional formwork.<\/p>\n<p>The process already is being used by a major retail player: <strong>Walmart<\/strong> recently leveraged Alquist 3D technology to construct a nearly <strong>8,000-square-foot<\/strong>, <strong>20-foot-high<\/strong> addition to its Athens, Tenn. store for the retailer\u2019s online pickup and delivery program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the first such facility of its kind and it\u2019s just incredible that it is a reality; this is going to play a major role in the advancement of 3DCP technology,\u201d said Zachary Mannheimer, Founder and Chairman of Alquist 3D in a statement. \u201cAnd for Walmart to see the value in the project demonstrates how forward-thinking the leadership of this organization is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Alquist 3D, Walmart complete one of the nation\u2019s largest 3D-printed commercial structures\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pAyXeiReZVw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Not Yet Ready for Prime Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>However, construction industry experts noted that 3DCP technology, while advancing rapidly, still has a number of limitations that have kept its use confined mostly to residential buildings. In addition to high initial investment costs for the technologies themselves, \u201cthere are limitations in terms of the maximum building size and height that can be achieved with current technology,\u201d said Julie Hyson, Americas Portfolio Clients, Services and Industries Lead at commercial real estate firm JLL in an interview with <em>Retail TouchPoints<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe process can be sensitive to environmental conditions, affecting concrete curing and layer adhesion,\u201d Hyson added. \u201cThere are also challenges related to integrating traditional building components (like windows, doors and utilities) into 3D-printed structures. <strong>The technology is still evolving, which means there\u2019s a lack of standardization and established building codes specifically for 3D printed structures.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>New Design Possibilities on the Horizon<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>But 3DCP certainly seems to be on the growth fast track, moving from an R&amp;D phase during the 2000s to initial practical applications by the mid-2010s in China, the Netherlands and now the U.S., according to Matt Abeles, VP, Construction Technology and Innovation at ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors), an industry trade group.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe most interesting advancement in 3D concrete printing is going from printing <strong>under-350-square-foot<\/strong> homes to printing a multistory apartment complex in the span of <strong>three<\/strong> years,\u201d said Abeles in an interview with <em>Retail TouchPoints<\/em>. \u201cAlso, thanks to the uptick in research and development funding, we are seeing advances in the use of sensors to monitor concrete properties in real time, new nozzle designs and even concrete mixes that utilize carbon fibers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hyson agreed that technology advances are happening on multiple fronts. \u201cThere are <strong>improved material formulations<\/strong> for better strength and durability, multi-material printing capabilities, integration of reinforcement methods (such as embedded steel bars and fiber reinforcement) and large-scale printers capable of producing larger buildings,\u201d she noted. \u201cAdditionally, <strong>advancements in software and control systems<\/strong> have enhanced precision and allowed for more complex geometries, and there\u2019s a lot of concentration on refining the aesthetics, for example, the smoothness of the finishes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of aesthetics, 3DCP has the potential to give designers new and customizable construction elements. \u201c3DCP allows for the <strong>creation of complex, organic shapes and intricate geometries that would be difficult or costly with traditional formwork<\/strong>,\u201d said Hyson. \u201cThis enables architects to explore new aesthetic possibilities and functional designs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe technology also facilitates the integration of multiple functions into a single element, such as <strong>combining structural, insulative and aesthetic features<\/strong>,\u201d Hyson added. \u201cIt allows for precise control over internal structures, enabling the creation of optimized, lightweight designs.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cost Savings, Green Impact Still TBD<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Given 3DCP\u2019s relative novelty, it\u2019s too early to determine if this construction method will be less expensive in the long run. Additionally, its net impact on sustainability remains to be determined.<\/p>\n<p>A reduction in wasted construction material could be key to both prospective benefits. \u201cThe benefits of 3DCP include reduced costs, less complex construction schedules (or less activities\/definable feature of work if speaking in terms of project management) and less materials waste,\u201d said Abeles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe process minimizes material waste, as it uses only the necessary amount of concrete,\u201d said Hyson. \u201cIt also can potentially improve building performance through optimized designs for thermal insulation and structural efficiency. Additionally, the precision of 3D printing can lead to improved quality control and consistency in construction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for 3DCP\u2019s sustainability bona fides, they are, you guessed it, complicated. \u201cGreen challenges may include high cement content (cement production is still a major carbon dioxide contributor), 3D printers\u2019 high energy consumption and the longevity and durability of alternative materials,\u201d said Abeles.<\/p>\n<p>Some mixes for 3D printing \u201cincorporate recycled materials or alternative binders that can significantly reduce environmental impact,\u201d said Hyson. \u201cOverall, while 3D concrete printing has the potential to be more sustainable, its \u2018green\u2019 credentials depend on how it\u2019s implemented and the specific materials used.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even if 3DCP is not quite ready for the big time, there are a number of other unconventional building materials that architects and retail designers can deploy, according to Abeles, such as \u201cmass timber (overall structure or stand-alone stair towers or elevator shafts), modular off-site construction (more familiar and recognized, but with room to grow), pre-cast stair towers and elevator shafts.\u201d Hyson also mentioned hempcrete, which features low mechanical properties and low thermal conductivity, making it good insulation material, although it\u2019s not considered strong enough to be load-bearing.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/online-workshops-list\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-496\" src=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png\" alt=\"Retail Online Training\" width=\"729\" height=\"91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90.png 729w, https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/RETAIL-ONLINE-TRAINING-728-X-90-300x37.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px\" \/><\/a><\/p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine concrete extruded from a computer-controlled nozzle, rather like an enormous pastry icer \u201cbuilding\u201d a layer cake. This is how 3D concrete printing (3DCP) works. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13554,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcasts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13553\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}