Franco-Swiss cement giant LafargeHolcim has partnered with UK development financier CDC Group to introduce 3D printing technology into the Kenyan construction market in a move aimed at promoting and fast-tracking the delivery of affordable houses in the country.
Through a partnership known as 14Trees, the two firms are set to deploy the technology locally following the success of a similar mission in Malawi where a house and a school were 3D printed last December. The walls of 14Trees’ house were printed in Lilongwe in just 12 hours compared to four days using traditional methods, while those of the school in Salima were built in 18 hours as opposed to weeks.
LafargeHolcim’s Middle East & Africa regional head Miljan Gutovic expressed his excitement over the success of the venture, saying 3D printing of structures was likely to accelerate affordable and sustainable building, from homes to schools.
“Starting in Malawi, we will deploy this technology across the broader region with projects already in the pipeline in Kenya and Zimbabwe,” he said.
Uptake of new technology
LafargeHolcim, which employs 80,000 people globally, is the parent company of Bamburi Cement. The conglomerate is the creation of a high-profile merger of equals by Lafarge and Holcim in 2015. 3D printing of buildings has been hailed as revolutionary mainly due to its speed and optimised usage of construction materials, as well as its ability to reduce carbon footprint of new homes by up to 70%.
The technology achieves shorter build times by doing away and consolidating more than 20 manual labour-intensive processes, including siding, framing, and sheathing. 3D printing of houses generates 30% of waste that conventional projects produce since construction components are printed on-demand and any leftovers can easily be recycled for future use.
Another benefit of this technology is that it produces structures that are mold and fire-resistant and built to withstand severe weather more than structures completed using traditional construction methods. LafargeHolcim believes that 3D printing technology can sustain skilled job creation with the hiring and training of local experts from 3D machine operators to material specialists collaborating with specialists in carpentry, painting and roofing.
To boost the uptake of the new technology, the Kenyan government is expected to design standards that will be followed by 3D printers of residential and commercial buildings as far as structural integrity, plumbing, electrical, and public safety issues are concerned.
