The Structure and Survey Department at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad recently developed Pakistan’s first eco-friendly 3D concrete printer.
The Structure and Survey Department at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad recently developed Pakistan’s first eco-friendly 3D concrete printer.
The team of researchers, which included NUST student Raja Dilawar Riaz, first developed the printer on a small scale before expanding it to a larger scale. Riaz explained that this printer could reduce construction costs by 40 to 50 percent, and the technology’s main advantage is that no labourers are required.
The printer can work continuously and respond quickly. In Pakistan, where 10 million people do not own a home, this technology has the potential to revolutionise the housing sector by allowing for the construction of more affordable and environmentally friendly homes for less money.
The 3D concrete printer, according to Riaz, moves in three directions and is controlled by a laptop and its associated controller. You can add cement and other materials and control them with a digital controller system to print construction materials in various forms. Riaz also mentioned that this printer can be used to make the plant pots, bricks, and construction pillars.
The 3D concrete printer was first displayed at the International Housing Expo under the theme of ‘Low-Cost Modern Housing Technology,’ where it received a lot of attention. Several companies contributed prize money to the project.
This printer cost Rs. 800,000 to make and took approximately a year to complete. Riaz stated that since displaying the printer, major construction companies in Pakistan have contacted him, expressing a desire to create similar machines. This ground-breaking technology has the potential to transform the face of affordable and environmentally friendly housing in Pakistan and beyond.
The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) is a multi-campus public research university in Islamabad, Pakistan. Undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as doctoral and professional degrees, are available at the university.