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India’s construction industry embraces 3-D printing techniques, even as it innovates
‘3D concrete printing is an emerging technology that has the potential to transform construction practices in India’ – L&T
3D printed temple in Siddipet, Telangana state /
The inauguration this week, of a temple within a gated community in Siddipet, Telangana state, highlights the increased use of 3-D printing technology by India’s construction industry.
The temple has come up in the Charvitha Meadows residential complex in Burugupally, Siddipet. It was constructed 100 percent in situ, using 3-D printing machinery, over a period of 70 days by Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad-based Simpliforge Creations, in collaboration with design and fabrication specialists, Apsuja Infratech. The temple which is spread across 4000 square feet and is 35.5 feet tall, will be opened to the public from November 24.
Amit Ghule, chief operating officer of Simpliforge Creations says, “This is a first-of-its-kind 3-D temple not just in India but in the world. This construction takes care of the structural requirements, principles of temple design, 3D printing requirements, while dealing with the challenges of in-site construction. This proof of concept also sets the stage for future applications of Simpliforge's systems in inaccessible areas like frontiers, high altitude areas, deserts and snowy regions with applications in challenging terrain, disaster hit areas and defence applications.”
India’s leading construction companies are increasingly offering the 3-D printing option to their clients wherever it makes sense.
Printed post office
L&T completed the 3-D printed Post Office in Bengaluru in 43 days / In August this year, Larsen & Toubro delivered India’s first post office building using 3D printing technology in Bengaluru's Cambridge Layout.
With the technical guidance of IIT Madras, L&T completed the 1021 square feet building, using a robotic 3-D printer on site, sourced from Denmark-based 3-D construction equipment maker Cobod, which deposited the special grade concrete layer by layer. Ironically while the structure was completed in 43 days, installing the conventional drainage and water systems delayed the commissioning by another two months.
George Abraham, operations head of L & T, South and East, says the total digital workflow eliminates human error. “The construction cost involved is just 40 percent of the conventional construction method. Since it is a fully automated process, it assures excellent product quality and is sustainable.”
L&T suggests that 3D concrete printing 'is an emerging technology that has the potential to transform construction practices in India by quickening the process and enhancing the build quality.'
This 1 BHK house was constructed by Tvasta using 3-D printing on the IIT Madras campus in 21 days /
Tvasta, a startup co-founded by alumni of the 2016 batch of IIT Madras who completed a final year project in 3-D printing, is another outfit that specializes in 3-D printed construction. In 2018, they constructed what is possibly India’s first 3-D structure -- within the IIT Madras campus -- and later built a 1 bedroom-hall-kitchen house, nearby in just 21 days.
3-D printed accommodation for IAF
The Military Engineering Service (MES), the construction arm of the defence forces, is often required to put up structures very fast: 3-D printing is an obvious solution. MES tried out the technology when it put up housing accommodations for airmen of the South West Air Command in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with help from Tvasta.
3-D printing, which recycles waste
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A startup of IIT Guwahati alumni constructed this security post using construction waste in the concrete mix / Innovations that are adapting 3-D technology to Indian needs are already to be seen: Earlier this year, alumni of IIT Guwahati who founded a startup -- Stratify 3D Pvt. Ltd.-- constructed a 3D printed security post using a special grade sustainable concrete containing recycled construction waste This technology developed at IIT Guwahati is now ready to provide customised houses in India in less construction time with controlled quality.
For India, which has set ambitious housing targets, 3-printed construction may be a technology whose time has come.
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