Project description
3D printing for the construction sector
The computer-controlled sequential layering of materials to create three-dimensional shapes, otherwise known as 3D printing, was first developed in the 1980s. It is now used in a wide range of applications – from aerospace engineering to dental applications. 3D printing systems have also been developed for the construction industry but there are still many challenges and limitations to overcome such as scalability and working at heights. The EU-funded Evo Constructor project has developed a mobile system based on a robotic machinery technique that enables the automation of all processes necessary for the construction of buildings and other civil works. This project will validate its commercialisation for construction companies as well as for architectural studies.
Objective
3D Printing for construction sector is booming in the last few years, emerging as an automated manufacturing process that produce complex shape geometries automatically from a 3D computer design model. Although construction 3D Printing has become a revolutionary technology for building, the industry will have to face many challenges related to scalability, work at heights, delivery system, suitability to adverse environment and initial investments. Aware of the limitations of current 3D printing systems for construction, we have developed Evo Constructor, which is a unique mobile system based on a robotic machinery technique that allows to automate all the constructive processes necessary for the execution of buildings and other civil works. The great innovations that differentiates Evo Constructor from any current alternative in the market are its unique cloned axis system, the economic and environmentally friendly characteristics and its self-climbing system, which translates into important cost and time savings. Now, we already have the support of potential customers within the building sector. Nevertheless, we still need to carry out full operational test to validate our solution for its subsequent commercialization. Our market, the 3D Printing Construction Market, was valued at € 0.06bn in 2017, and it is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 78% reaching € 40bn by 2027. Based on our commercialization plan we will offer our solution mainly to construction companies of the building sector, but also architecture studies. It will include the sale and rent of Evo Constructor, but also maintenance and consultancy services. Following our business strategy, we establish an average price of € 0.82M per unit for sale, and € 287k for 6 months rental. Based on the profitability of the project we expect a cumulative revenue of € 22.4M by the third year, meaning a cumulative cash flow of € 13.1M. Considering a total investment of € 1.5M we expect to get a ROI of 463% by 2022.
Fields of science
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometry
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
35002 LAS PALMAS
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.