Page 39 - EngineerIT May 2022

TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, NEW PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE

Is South Africa’s construction industry ready

for 3D printing?

ith around 20 per cent spaces, homes, schools and even pedestrian bridges. Indeed, Malawi recently became
of South Africa’s urban home to the continent’s first 3D printed house and the world’s first 3D printed school.
Whouseholds living in informal The technology involves the use of enormous 3D printers which extrude or ‘print’
settlements, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s layers of a specially mixed material, not unlike concrete, to create the required structure.
recent announcement that government “A significant advantage of the technology is that recycled materials can be used to
is to pilot 3D printed homes certainly create the concrete, which reduces the build’s impact on the environment,” says
sounds like good news for the country’s Evans.”But the benefits go much further”.
housing crisis, but is South Africa’s 3D printing has the potential to create numerous jobs in the construction industry,
construction industry ready for 3D says Evans. “Besides the skills needed to manufacture, sell and maintain 3D printers,
printing? the technology will fuel the demand for specialised skills in areas such as design,
Databuild CEO Morag Evans believes model making and prototyping. Evans points out that 3D printing only enables the
it is. “The sooner our construction frame and walls of a building to be constructed. “Windows, plumbing, electricity and
industry embraces 3D printing other elements must be installed separately so the demand for jobs in these areas will
technology, the sooner we will reap its remain.”
manifold benefits,” she says. 3D printing More and more construction role players are committing to green design and
is not new to construction. Since the sustainable construction practices. Consequently, as 3D printing technology matures,
first 3D-printed commercial building it won’t be long before 3D-printed structures are the norm rather than the exception,
was constructed in Dubai in 2016, the Evans predicts.
technology has been used all over the
world – including Africa – to create office For more information, go to: https://www.databuild.co.za/

Malawi School being 3D printed

EngineerIT | May 2022 | 37