Additive Manufacturing – HINDCON
The aim of the work-package 6 of the HINDCON project is to perform value chain simulation and modelling with integrated LCA with life cycle data related to additive manufacturing in the construction sector.
The client
Horizon Europe – European Union
Our role
2.-0 LCA consultants are in charge of supporting the eco-design of the HINDCON components and systems, by obtaining environmental performance information with LCA modeling and identifying strategies to further reduce impacts. Project completed September 2019.
Hybrid industrial construction through 3D printing
Advanced Manufacturing has been highlighted by the EU as one of the key enablers to support and promotion of business research and innovation in key enabling technologies. Therefore, a number of objectives, aligned with pursuing the large scale targets, have been set for advanced manufacturing through four pillars: technology, economic, social and environment.
Thus, HINDCON aims to adapt manufacturing technologies to the construction sector, advancing towards industrialisation and overcoming the limitations of actual approach for introducing Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing in construction activities. The project has a duration of 36 months.
The main aim of HINDCON is to develop and demonstrate a hybrid machine regarding 3D printing technologies with concrete materials focused on the industrialization of the Construction Industry, delivering to this sector an innovative technology that reduces environmental impact at the same time it reduces dramatically economic costs. The collaborative structure of the project will help to:
1) Integrate different technologies that converge in a hybrid solution. The HINDCON “all-in-one” machine will integrate Additive Manufacturing concrete extruder and Subtractive Manufacturing tool kit with the use of cementitious materials including mass materials with alternatives in concrete and additives, and reinforced with composites.
2) Cover the different aspects concerned (technology, economic, social and environment) and demonstrate the hybrid machine from different perspectives. On the one hand, it includes testing basic capabilities of the integrated prototype in laboratory. On the other hand, it involves the demonstration of the manufacturing system in a relevant environment.
The video below introduced the overall project:
LCA result presented in a short video below – and has resulted in these articles Life cycle assessment of integrated additive–subtractive concrete 3D printing and Concrete hybrid manufacturing: A machine architecture