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Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix produces 3D printed concrete skate elements for international sports event in Paris

This 400 m² skatepark at Esplanade de Paris La Défense resembles a gigantic pinball machine and is accessible to everyone from July 18 to August 11 during the international sports competition. Beginners and experienced skateboarders, families, and people with or without disabilities are all welcome to experience the sport together. 

 

Successful tests

Several skate elements were tested by prominent skaters and influencers in the 3D concrete printing factory in Eindhoven. The surface is perfectly suited for skateboarding, being neither too smooth nor too rough. “I can’t wait to explore the full skatepark and see how the riders make it their own,” says Hortense, co-founder of the Concrete Surf Riders Paris club. Haleksgang, a member of the O Labo club, is also positive: “Our test on the skate elements was really convincing. Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix got it right. We were able to talk with the developers and producers of the elements and gave them some finishing tips to optimize the riding experience as much as possible.”

The advantages of 3D concrete printing

The 3D concrete printing technique offers several significant advantages over traditional production methods. Thanks to the 3D concrete printing technology, skate elements can be designed and produced with utmost precision. This makes it possible to realize unique and complex shapes that perfectly meet the needs of skateboarders and were not feasible with traditional formwork. This provides designers and architects the freedom to think beyond traditional boundaries and create unique, functional skate elements.

 

Moreover, the production of skate elements with 3D printing technology is significantly faster than traditional methods and this innovative technique results in a CO2 reduction of 40 to 60% compared to traditional constructions. This is because concrete is used only where necessary and no reinforcement is required in the construction.

 

“We are extremely honored to apply this revolutionary technology for this unique project that Saint-Gobain is realizing in the run-up to this major sports event,” says Peter Paul Cornelissen, 3D Business Unit Manager at Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix. “Our 3D printed skate elements will not only enhance the sports experience for the users of this skatepark but also demonstrate how advanced the technology in the construction sector has become.”

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Project Milestone to be continued: 4 new 3D concrete printed houses are going up

Further development of technology

The realisation of the first 3D printed house was followed by a lot of background hard work on further development of the printing technology. In recent years, Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix, with a branch at the Hurk business park in Eindhoven, has invested heavily in the development of the overall process in order to achieve a unique industrial and scalable 3D concrete printing process. Partly in cooperation with Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), this process has been developed and optimised in detail in recent years, resulting in continuous delivery of guaranteed quality. This requires less material compared to existing construction methods, thus saving on CO2.


New designs

Two new types of house have been developed that, unlike the first house, consist of several floors. The new houses derive their structural properties entirely from the printed concrete, a globally unique property within 3D printed housing construction. With their organic design – a habitable ‘boulder’ – the new houses are perfectly suited to their woodland settings. Two of each type of house will be located in Bosuil in Eindhoven.

 

Start of sale

Unlike the first house in Project Milestone, the new houses will be offered for sale. Interested parties can visit www.3dprintedhouse.nl where all the information about the 3D printed houses can be found and interested parties can contact us. Sales are scheduled to start after the summer holidays.

 

Realisation

After completion of the sales process, the realisation of the houses will begin in early 2025. Preparations for this are already in full swing. The plan is that the new residents will be able to move into the houses in the summer of 2025.


Working together with innovation

Characteristic of the Milestone project is the cooperation between government, knowledge institutions and the business community. The municipality of Eindhoven is a co-initiator, driver of innovation and facilitator of the project, the TU/e conducted research and developed models to make 3D concrete printing possible, Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix developed the process needed to deliver consistent quality on the production line, Houben / Van Mierlo Architecten designed the houses, Witteveen+Bos is working on the structural and engineering aspects and the construction company Van Wijnen is leading the project and building the houses.

 

Do you want to know more about Project Milestone or the possibilities of 3D concrete printing? Contact us then. 

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Winners Concrete Design Competition 2023-2024 announced

Creative ideas contest

The Concrete Design Competition is a biennial ideas competition for structural, architectural and civil engineering students. “We challenge students to design with concrete, to explore the unique and aesthetic properties of this material within this edition’s theme: PRESENCE. This challenging theme addresses how the material can impart a certain tactile experience to the form of a space or object in the built environment,” said Cindy Vissering of Tektoniek.

Versatile entries

The broad competition yielded a wide variety of design ideas, ranging from façade details and stacked open structures to urban design elements and structural details. “It was a challenge to properly compare the wide variety of entries,” said Pim Peters, chairman of the jury. “But we arrived at a nice selection of winners.” On June 6 at TU Delft, the nominees presented their designs to interested parties, followed by the announcement of the winners.

Winners and prizes

First prize went to Hydrowall, a green façade design with two degrees of porosity in the concrete. Second prize was for Fabric[ated] Strength, in which columns are made of two layers of textile with dry cement concrete hardening in between. Third prize was won by Skycrete, a semi-open roof design for a pavilion with scaled forms. An honorable mention went to the design Playground of the future with playground elements made of 3D-printed concrete.

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First and second prize winners may participate in the International Concrete Design Masterclass, while first, second and third prize winners will also receive a cash prize.


International Masterclass


The Concrete Design Competition is also held in Germany, Belgium, Austria and Ireland. In the Netherlands, the design competition is coordinated from Tektoniek, platform for concrete architecture. The winners from the five countries will come together in the Concrete Design Masterclass, which will take place this year at Saint-Gobain Weber in the Netherlands. At the Training Center, the students will both create designs to be printed on the industrial concrete printer in our 3D concrete printing factory and also create their own concrete objects with textile molds.

 

Do you want to know more about the possibilities of 3D concrete printing? Contact us then. 

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3D-printed concrete now available in colour

Sustainable & colourful

3D concrete printing offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional formwork concrete. Because the 3D printer applies material only where needed, the products are 40-60% more durable. On top of that, 3D concrete printing offers more freedom of form. This is because the object no longer needs to be made from a solid piece of material.

 

And so from now on, these products are also available in various colours. This allows us to personalise our orders even further.

 

Would you like to know more about the possibilities of 3D concrete printing or are you interested in one of our products? Then contact us.

See all colour options

Geel
Yellow
Groen
Green
Bruin
Brown
Antraciet
Anthracite
Rood
Red
Grijs
Grey

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World record: Qatar has tallest 3D printed tower

Challenging schedule

 

The project was complex for several reasons, including the challenging schedule leading up to the expo opening, and because Witteveen+Bos as designer and constructor, and Saint-Gobain Weber Benelux as 3D printing expert and producer, took this record attempt as an opportunity to further innovate the 3D concrete printing technology.

 

The schedule was driven by the expo opening and the logistical challenge of transporting all elements by boat from the Netherlands to Qatar. Through intensive and clever collaboration, they managed to achieve a very short lead time: from the initial design idea to realization and shipping within two months.

 

Futuristic design

 

The design pushes the boundaries of 3D printing technology. The interrupted circular structure and the characteristic 30-degree inclination are eye-catching. To achieve this futuristic design, optimal use was made of the advantages of 3D printing technology. A total of 85 unique building blocks were designed. Each concrete element was individually printed, and material was only printed where necessary for strength. Furthermore, the blocks have a hollow structure.

 

The result is a 3D-printed tower, consisting of ten layers with eight or nine blocks each, creating a structure measuring 13 by 13 meters with a height of 12.4 meters. After assessment, the Qatari tower has been recognized as the Guinness World Record for the ‘tallest freestanding 3D-printed concrete structure.’

 

Marijn Bruurs, 3D concrete print expert at Witteveen+Bos: ‘This record that we achieved together with Qatar is very valuable. Especially because we have been able to apply techniques in practice that can also be used on a broader scale, for example in housing construction.  With the 30-degree inclination and interrupted circle in the design also expand the structural and architectural possibilities of 3D concrete printing.’

 

Peter Paul Cornelissen, Business Unit Manager 3D Printing, Weber Benelux: ‘A project like this is ideally suited to be 3D printed with concrete. This has everything to do with the extremely short lead time, the number of unique shapes, and the structural properties of the material used. To guarantee the structural properties of the individual elements, Weber has developed a unique Quality Framework. This allows the agreed quality to be delivered with short lead times and large volumes, which is essential for any structural construction.’

 

Do you want to know more about the possibilities of 3D concrete printing? Contact us then. 

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Weber develops eco mortar for 3D concrete printing

Because a 3D printer only applies material where necessary, 3D printed products are on average 40 to 60% more sustainable than traditional formwork concrete products. In addition, the new concrete mortar uses considerably less cement in production. This, of course, without compromising Weber’s high quality standards and delivery reliability.

 

Weber 3D eco is the next step for the company to provide sustainable solutions for the construction sector, including popular inclined stairs, circular outdoor furniture, entrance protections, and other custom solutions.

 

“Our continued commitment to innovation and sustainability has led to this remarkable achievement,” says Peter Paul Cornelissen, Business Unit Manager Weber. “With this newly developed mortar composition, we reduce our cement consumption by almost half. In this way, we contribute to a cleaner future for the construction industry and the environment.”

 

Weber continues to be committed to providing innovative solutions that not only meet the needs of today but also contribute to a more sustainable tomorrow. All of this supports Saint-Gobain’s global goal of ‘Making the world a better home.’

 

Would you like to know more about the possibilities of 3D concrete printing? Contact us.

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Online slopestairs configurator for personalized staircase design

The slopestairs configurator allows users to customize various parameters, including the width, length, height, step height and number of platforms of the staircase. This allows customers to create a staircase that perfectly fits their specific needs and environment.

One of the most striking features of the configurator is the ability to visualize the designed staircase model in the real world using augmented reality (AR). You do this by pointing the camera of your smartphone or tablet at the desired location. This way you can virtually place the staircase and instantly see how it would look in their own environment.

 

“With our online slopestairs configurator, we want to simplify the design process for customers while offering a unique and interactive experience,” said Jean Pierre van Dongen, 3D Sales Project Leader Benelux at 3D.Weber. “By using advanced technologies such as AR, we aim to make it easier for our customers to visualize and realize their ideal staircase.”

The slopestairs configurator is now available on our website and is free to use for anyone looking for a customized staircase solution. With this innovative tool, we take another step forward in providing high-quality and customer-oriented building solutions.

Curious about the possibilities? Click here and start your design now with our configurator. Or request our slopestairs brochure for more information.

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CROW-CUR guideline for 3D concrete printing now available

Our expertise in 3D concrete printing allows us to build more freely, efficiently and sustainably, with a focus on optimizing material use and minimizing environmental impact. Thanks to CROW-CUR’s new guideline, we are able to share our knowledge and experience with all those involved in the construction process. These include architects and designers, structural engineers and (public) clients. In this way we think along about the appropriate 3D printed solutions. From slope stairs, street furniture, drive-in safeguards to bridges and housing/home elements.

The use of 3D concrete printing as a construction method represents a significant shift from traditional construction processes. It allows us to build objects layer by layer with concrete. This requires a different approach regarding material behavior, construction method and structural design choices. With a dedicated approach and groundbreaking solutions, we strive to continue to innovate and lead the construction industry into a sustainable future.

Curious about the possibilities for your organization? Then request our information brochure using the form below or contact:

Pieter Bakker

3D Projectleider

Phone: +31 6 51868615

E-mail: pieter.bakker@weberbeamix.nl

Jean Pierre van Dongen

3D Sales Projectleider BNL

Phone: +31 6 15076705

E-mail: jeanpierre.vandongen@weberbeamix.nl

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Three major pillars in 3D concrete printing: Sustainability, construction automation and freedom of form

3D concrete printing. A relatively new technique with great potential for the future of construction. “Especially with the climate crisis, the large replacement and renovation task and the labor shortage we are facing,” says Pieter Bakker, 3D printing project leader at Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix.

 

“We are therefore constantly looking for opportunities to become more sustainable and thus have a positive environmental impact on and in our environment.” According to Pieter, smarter construction, including through parametric design, is the solution. “We also apply that within our 3D concrete printing technology.”

Three major pillars

At Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix, the entire development of 3D concrete printing rests on three major pillars: sustainability, automation of construction (with process optimization as a goal) and freedom of form. “In terms of sustainability, we are looking beyond making concrete more eco-friendly. With 3D concrete printing, we have a technique that allows us to use even less material: less concrete, no reinforcement, no formwork. And because the process is largely automated, we can shorten delivery times and respond to the scarcity of skilled workers. In line with this is process optimization, where time and error reduction play a major role.” The third pillar, according to Pieter, is freedom of form. “After all, parametric design is a technical and very important expression of the ease of form freedom, but also the ability to generate ‘more exotic’ shapes plays an important role in this.”

Slope stairs

“A slope stairs, perhaps not the sexiest structure, very clearly demonstrates all the advantages of parametric design, immediately bringing out all the benefits of 3D concrete printing,” says Pieter. “Based on the relevant dimensions, we can design a talus staircase without drawing or calculation, which can be printed the next day and delivered within three weeks.”

 

The slope stairs is one of the products that Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix is fully marketing within concrete printing. “We are past the pioneering phase, have already realized about 50 stairs in the Netherlands and within the rest of Europe and have now received approval from ProRail, Rijkswaterstaat and several municipalities.”

Without drawing or calculation, we can design a slope stairs, which can be printed the next day and delivered within three weeks.Without drawing or calculation, we can design a talus staircase, which can be printed the next day and delivered within three weeks.

Most sustainable bicycle bridge

A lot more complicated than slope stairs or other fairly standard concrete products such as sewer manholes, are the 3D printed bicycle bridges rolling out of Weber Beamix’s print factory in Eindhoven. “In collaboration with BAM Infra and Province of Noord-Holland, who have really embraced our innovation, we installed four 3D printed bicycle bridges at the N243 earlier this year.

As a construction team, we went through all phases, from sketch to execution, approaching the project with the same three pillars: how can we do this sustainably, fully automated and with as little material as possible, and of course in the context of freedom of form.” This involves four bridges with different arches and dimensions, all realized from the same parametric model. It shows that within certain parameters, a lot really is possible.

Sustainable and digital innovation together

It may be obvious: 3D concrete printing fits a sustainable future. “We have already taken many steps but we are not there yet,” says Pieter. “Governments and industry will have to continue to innovate together to overcome the climate crisis. I therefore invite them to explore and take that step with us.”

This article was written for the Dutch trade magazine GWWTotaal. Click here to read the full article (in Dutch).

Naast taludtrappen en fietsbruggen ontwikkelt Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix ook andere vrij standaard betonproducten zoals rioolputten.

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Saint-Gobain Weber and Urbastyle join forces with innovative 3D printed landscape benches

Through the innovative combination of 3D concrete printing with traditionally cast tops, we are creating benches that are both environmentally friendly and sustainable.

 

Infinite possibilities
One of the most striking features of the landscape benches is the enormous freedom of form. Customers have the ability to customize the benches to their specific needs and preferences. Consider the shape, size and color of the benches.

 

Lightweight and resilient
Thanks to the use of 3D concrete printing technology, Saint-Gobain Weber and Urbastyle have managed to introduce benches that are remarkably lightweight while maintaining comfortable seating experiences and low maintenance requirements. In addition, the benches are finished with a polished concrete top that is highly durable and resilient.

 

“The collaboration between Urbastyle and Weber embodies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable urban design,” said Peter Paul Cornelissen, Business Unit Manager of 3D Printing at Saint-Gobain Weber.

 

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