The tests were successfully carried out at TEPAM, the company's Logistics Center in General Pacheco, Buenos Aires. The initiative marks a new step forward toward more efficient, safe and sustainable processes in industrial construction.

With an eye on new solutions for the industry, Techint Engineering & Construction added a 3D concrete printer for industrial applications to its operations, the first of its kind acquired by a construction company in Argentina. This technology represents a new way of building, using automation, robotics and advanced control throughout the construction process.

Initial tests were carried out at the company's Logistics Center in Gral. Pacheco, with the support of Grondplek, an Argentine startup specializing in additive construction. The company is the official distributor in the country of the printer developed by the Danish company COBOD.

“3D concrete printing allows us to manufacture, in a controlled and safe environment, elements that we will then use in our projects. It also gives us the possibility to produce them in a massive, efficient and highly accurate manner,” added Alejandro Aguirre, Innovation Sr. Manager.

This technology is part of Techint E&C's innovation strategy, which aims to offer its clients more sustainable and efficient solutions that are aligned with the current challenges of the sector.

“We are offering our clients an innovative and sustainable way to build. The main advantages are speed of execution, reduction of waste, and elimination of traditional formwork,”aid Rocío Gentico, Project Field Engineer & 3DCP Coordinator.

The tool combines three key areas of the construction transformation agenda: prefabrication, automation and reduction of the carbon footprint.

Applications and next steps

The printer, model BOD2, has a working area of 12 x 12 meters and can reach a printing height of up to 6 meters. In the first stage, it will be used to produce parts such as perimeter walls, chambers, drainage trenches, minor foundations and permanent formwork.

3D concrete printing offers multiple benefits for projects, including:

• Greater safety, by reducing exposure to manual tasks on site.

• Higher productivity, thanks to working in controlled conditions and the possibility of manufacturing printed parts on site.

• Replacement of traditional precast elements and labor-intensive manual processes.

• Lower environmental impact, by optimizing the use of concrete, reducing the amount of reinforcing steel, and eliminating the use of wood for formwork.

The next step will be to create a catalog of standard parts, which the engineering team will then adapt to specific requirements for use in future projects. Finally, the printer will be sent to strategic locations with high demand and continuous production of these parts.

The incorporation of this technology consolidates Techint E&C's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in the construction industry.

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