The first people in Ireland and the UK to live in 3D-printed homes are three family in Dundalk, County Louth, reports RTE.
Construction printing technology, which automates the concrete laying process, was used to build the two-story, three-bedroom terraced dwellings.
The three local family, who had previously been on the Louth County Council social housing list, were formally given the properties in Grange Close during a ceremonial celebration conducted in Dundalk, reports RTE.
A 3D concrete printer was installed on a gantry during the house’s construction, and it was configured to pipe out concrete in accordance with a digital blueprint. Without the use of concrete blocks, the hollow walls were constructed from the ground up.
The construction of the three homes took six months, from May of last year until November, reports RTE.
According to the project’s developers, the COBOD 3D construction printing technology automates the concrete laying process, saving money and time while improving structural integrity and resource efficiency.
The Louth County Council, the Louth & Meath Education & Training Board (LMETB), the construction business Roadstone, and the Irish construction technology company Harcourt Technologies (HTL) collaborated to create the housing complex at Grange Close in Dundalk.
With a total machine on-site duration of 18 working days, the printed structures were completed in 12 print days, reports RTE.
According to HTL, this is 60% quicker than the conventional 44-day concrete block process. The project’s total working days came to 132, which is 35% less than the 203 days needed for traditional construction.
According to the firm, each home’s building cost, excluding VAT, was around €253,000, which is equivalent to current traditional construction expenses, reports RTE.
The initiative is an illustration of how such technologies may revolutionise housing delivery, according to Justin Kinsella, managing director of HTL.
In a statement, he said: “At Harcourt Technologies we have successfully demonstrated the benefits of the technology in delivering a traditional and trusted concrete cavity wall construction, with remarkable efficiency – 60% faster than conventional methods and reducing the overall project delivery by 35%. Thanks to our partnership with Roadstone, we’re now positioned to scale up this solution across Ireland and help contribute to the much-needed supply of cost-effective, and sustainable housing throughout the country,” reports RTE.
The LMETB’s role in the Grange Close project has also been credited with its success, since it trained and upskilled personnel in 3D construction printing technology.
Chief Executive of the LMETB and the Advanced Training and Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, Martin O’Brien, said: “The Grange Close project is a testament to what can be achieved when forward-thinking ideas and collaborative efforts come together,” reports RTE.
“We are proud to play a central role in delivering Ireland’s first 3D printed homes, which will provide much-needed social housing to families in Louth,” he added, reports RTE.
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