The latest episode of the Engineers Collective podcast, How is 3D printing changing construction techniques?, discusses the growing use of 3D printing for concrete structures, metal bridges and composite forms by the construction industry.
NCE editor Claire Smith and senior reporter Catherine Kennedy are joined by Bam Nuttall head of innovation Colin Evison to chart how 3D printing first started to influence the civil engineering sector, where the industry is now and what opportunities lie ahead.
Colin shares his experience of working with 3D printed concrete structures on projects with clients like the Environment Agency and talks about the opportunity it presents for engineers to tap into their creative side as they work outside of existing design codes.
Claire and Catherine discuss the construction risks that come with using innovative technology with Colin, along with the potential 3D printing offers to reaching carbon net zero. Colin also shares some lessons learned around where 3D printing techniques work best and some considerations when planning to use such methods.
While Colin doesn’t believe 3D printing will solve every construction problem, he does expect its used to grow in the next decade.
