University of Florida buys BOD3 3D printer from COBOD

The University of Florida has purchased a BOD3 3D printer from the Danish company COBOD.

Manufactured in Denmark, the BOD3 printer is the latest generation of construction printing technology and will be installed in the university’s Weil Hall Structures and Materials Lab. This technology, which was developed for building structures by layering concrete, offers numerous new possibilities for research, teaching and industrial applications.

The 27,000-pound printer recently arrived in the U.S. after a long journey and is now part of an interdisciplinary research project at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. COBOD technology enables the construction of buildings through the precise application of concrete layers, which is faster, more cost-efficient and more material-friendly than conventional construction methods. 3D printing is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry in particular, as it enables, among other things, the construction of residential buildings within a few weeks with minimal manpower.

“The opportunities for the interplay of artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics and smart manufacturing will be one of a kind in the country,” said UF Professor Iris V. Rivero, the chair of the UF Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering who launched the effort to secure the 3D printer. “With UF’s access to the Space Coast, vast areas of shoreline, and infrastructure needs, we will be the hub of innovation in Industrial Manufacturing Construction Engineering. UFs Industrial and Systems Engineering department will lead the path defining one-of-a-kind, infrastructure-driven interdisciplinary research and education.”

Forrest Masters, interim dean of the UF College of Engineering, said the new equipment will set the University of Florida apart from its peers by providing students with unique experimental learning opportunities. UF continues to be at the forefront of meeting the needs of industry, he said. By introducing the new Industrialized Construction program, the 3D printer will be an example of the latest technological advances to help address critical societal challenges, he said.

Aladdin Alwisy emphasized that in addition to the societal benefits of cheaper, faster and higher quality buildings, the automated prefabrication system will also improve the working conditions of construction workers by reducing physically demanding and dangerous tasks.

The printer is not only used in research, but also in teaching. Various engineering and construction degree programs will incorporate 3D printing into their curricula to provide students with hands-on experience with this technology.

“We are collaborating with the College of Engineering to expand this course, reaching more students interested in these innovations,” said Chaofeng Wang, assistant professor of AI in the Built Environment at UF’s M.E. Rinker Sr., School of Construction Management. “The acquisition of this new 3D printer will bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industry experience, while also driving research in additive manufacturing, material science, and construction automation.”

Philip Lund-Nielsen, co-founder and head of the Americas region at BOD International, said the company has customers at a large Air Force base in Florida. In addition, customer 1Print in Broward County uses the technology to 3D print various structures, including coastal defense walls. BOD International is also working with numerous universities to obtain research grants and integrate the use of the printers into lectures and construction programs.

SNS Insider Research reported that the growing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly building practices is one of the main drivers for 3D printing in construction. The company estimated the market value at $36.7 million in 2023 and predicted it would rise to $20.56 billion by 2032.

“Within the next two to five years, the 3D printer is anticipated to become an integral component of an automated prefabrication system alongside other robotic technologies, such as industrial robotic arms, mobile robots, legged robots, and collaborative robots,” Alwisy said. “This automated setup will expand the 3D printer’s applications beyond building structures to encompass a wide range of tasks supporting substructures, shells, MEP systems [mechanical, electrical, and plumbing], and finishing work.”

As well as research into improving the speed and quality of construction, it is hoped that the integration of 3D printing will also lead to advances in sustainable and cost-effective construction. The university is working closely with companies such as Autodesk and the National Science Foundation to promote the use of the printer.