A 3D concrete printing company has had to defend the technology saying it will not take jobs away from bricklayers.
Contec Australia is close to completing a 3D printed two-storey home in Tapping, a suburb in north Perth, with another on the way in the central city area. A trial build, the company’s work was reported in the mainstream media late last week where the subject of labour and jobs was raised.
“This technology is only seeking to augment the labour shortages we’re experiencing. It’s definitely not going to be replacing any labour that we’re missing; it’s just seeking to help and assist,” Contec founder Mark D’Alessandro told 7NEWS Perth.
However, lower costs for materials, scaffolding and labour were highlighted along with the speed of construction.
“The printing time itself was about seven and a half hours,” D’Alessandro said. “To be at the same point with double brick, you would be looking at minimum, I’d say, a week’s worth of work.”
Contec’s website states its 3D-printed walls provide natural insulation and reduce the need for additional heating or cooling. The Tapping home’s walls are also designed to be fire-resistant and acoustically rated, providing safety and comfort for its occupants.
The company is set to 3D print the load bearing walls and concrete suspended slabs of a three-storey house in Peppermint Grove in central Perth, including curved internal walls and boundary fencing.
Related reading:https://concreteinstitute.com.au/?s=3D+printing
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia and at the helm of our magazine for 8 years. She was behind the Institute's weekly news bulletins from 2016-2021 and is now writing our focused news items. Desi has been an engineering news and features journalist/editor across all disciplines since 2013 - part of a 30-year career writing for a wide range of industries.