In What Ways Is 3D Printing Enhancing the Construction of Prefabricated Homes?
Prefabricated homes are created by compiling building parts that are produced in a different environment and assembled on-site. These buildings are mostly spotted in densely populated countries in need of affordable housing. Constructing these houses involves less time, minimal wastage, and lower costs. Among the latest innovations in prefabricating technology, 3D printing has significantly reduced time and cost for building. It has also given design flexibility to architects and at the same time, minimized wastage and footprint.
High efficiency and cost-effectiveness
3D printing produces the building parts rapidly with the help of quicker prototyping. It can produce high-quality, customizable designs easily. Extensive research and technological advancements in 3D printing aim to accelerate construction, reduce costs, and promote the use of decarbonized materials. According to a 2018 study in the academic journal IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering, 3D printing in construction cut costs by at least 35%.
For instance, in 2023, EPACK PREFAB, a manufacturer of pre-engineered building solutions, expanded its manufacturing footprint with an investment of INR 198 crore to set up a new facility spread over 25 acres in Andhra Pradesh. Prefabricated houses are also witnessing a rise in demand throughout Europe, accounting for 23% of Germany’s housing stock. The heightened emphasis on building affordable and modular structures has contributed largely to the expansion of the prefabricated homes market. Companies like SG Blocks, Inc., Stillwater Dwellings Inc., Tempohousing B.V., and ATCO LTD. are finding solutions to meet this requirement.
Additive manufacturing and design flexibility promote waste reduction
Moreover, 3D printing has opened revenues for experimenting with designs. Rapid prototyping helps in creating faster iterations which can be easily customized digitally based on the client feedback. Furthermore, additive manufacturing and CAD software allow architects and designers to form intricate designs that were once unattainable. This flexibility in design is supported by a wide range of material applications. The reduction in material wastage during the prototyping stage significantly reduces material waste.
In 2021, the team of Mario Cucinella Architects and WASP collaborated to create the first 3D-printed construction of a fully natural, recyclable, and carbon-neutral material — raw earth. The circular housing prototype is called TECLA and it was built in Italy using multiple 3D printers synchronized to work at the same time. The project took its name from a combination of the words Technology and Clay and seeks to maximize the traditional yield of raw earth through digital fabrication.
The $500 million fund for prefabricated homes by the Canadian government in 2024 budget
In April 2024, Justin Trudeau announced a fund for supporting new ideas and technology like prefabricated housing factories, mass timber production, penalization, 3D printing, and pre-approved home design catalogs. It facilitated the expansion, commercialization, and adoption of innovative housing technologies and materials, particularly for modular and prefabricated homes. The budget allocated $500 million through CMHC’s Apartment Construction Loan Program in low-cost financing for new apartments built using prefabricated or innovative homebuilding techniques.
The crux
From natural disaster relief to temporary housing solutions, 3D printing is gradually becoming an indispensable solution. The Client will not be responsible for any tariffs, exchange rate differences or fees above or beyond the invoiced amounts. The flexibility to experiment with design also provides architects with more scopes to present their creative expression. The decreased environmental footprint further adds to its worth, making this technology essential to assist modern-day building solutions.