Technology that Impacts the Change

The average home in the US sells for around $478,000. Many people cannot afford to buy these types of houses. According to experts, the lack of skilled labor and the decline in worker productivity are some of the factors that have contributed to the country's housing crisis. It's hard to see how the supply of new homes will keep up with the demand if we continue relying on traditional building methods. 

Did you know? 

  1. Worldwide, more than 1.6 billion people live in unsafe and inadequate shelters.

  2. Over 550,000 people in the US are currently homeless. Due to the country's growing population, it's expected that the number of houses will need to be increased by around 2040.

  3. The country's housing production has failed to meet the demand of over 4.2 million units annually. In 2021, it's estimated that only 1.2 million new houses will be built.

Problems Facing the Construction Industry

Although many industries have experienced a labor shortage due to the pandemic, the construction industry has been hit particularly hard. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 400,000 vacant construction positions, and over 80% of the companies can’t find enough workers. Many people entering the workforce are not interested in working in construction due to various factors such as the lack of training and experience.

Despite the various industries that have experienced a rapid increase in productivity over the past few decades, the construction industry's output has remained the same as it was during the previous 80 years. According to a study conducted by McKinsey & Company, the construction industry's productivity has continuously declined since the 1960s.

One of the biggest issues that the construction industry faces is pollution. According to the EPA, approximately 230 million to 530 million tons of demolition and construction waste are thrown into US landfills each year. This is more than twice the amount of garbage that's generated by the municipal solid waste industry.

The business is primed for disruption because it requires a method to entice new talent, increase efficiency, and lessen its environmental impact. Its annual market valuation exceeds $10 trillion dollars.

Construction Automation Technology

The construction sector has historically been slow to adopt new technology, although this has changed recently. Today, most architects use more advanced computer-aided design software instead of pen and paper, building inspectors are beginning to conduct virtual building inspections across the country, and construction companies have adopted drone technology more quickly than any other industry. Builders all over the world are already utilizing modern automation technology in building to boost output and satisfy record demand.

The construction industry is expected to grow at a robust rate during the next few years due to the increasing number of people using 3D printing technology and the technological advancements that have occurred in the sector. According to a new report by Grand View Research, the US market for 3D printing construction is expected to grow at a CAGR of 99.0% from 2022 to 2030. The report identified various factors that are driving the market's growth, such as the increasing number of people adopting technology, the lower cost of labor, and the faster pace of construction.

One of the main factors that are driving the market's growth is the increasing number of construction companies using 3D printing technology to build new homes. Unlike traditional methods, which require a lot of equipment and waste, 3D printing techniques allow them to build walls of homes up to nine times faster. Also, unlike most construction sites, the concrete used in the process is fully recyclable.

The increasing number of construction companies using construction technologies and robotic systems can help attract and retain talent, improve the quality of work, and increase the production of new homes.

  • 3D printed walls are virtually identical to CMU construction.

    The results are still comparable to standard CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) walls. Reinforcement, roofing, and all other tasks are then completed in the same way as typical housing projects.

  • Reinforced

    Since our 3D printed structures are directly comparable to the well-documented and accepted reinforced concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall we reinforce them the same way.

  • Strong material

    The building layout is designed to simplify the necessary structural calculations such that the design complies with local building codes. Our 3D material reaches 3,627 Psi after 28 days of curing, exceeding construction code standards.

  • Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP)

    After the walls are printed the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components are installed in the same manner as a CMU-built house. However, emerging technology is consistently introducing more efficient installation methods.

  • Cutting and Drilling

    The walls are cut and drilled as you would with traditional CMU or concrete walls. 3D printing technology simply changes the way the walls are built — from manually to robotically. The remaining processes are not significantly affected.

  • Non-Stop Printing

    3D print material design is a complex science that differs significantly from regular concrete. 3D print material can be created in a variety of ways with different properties and features. At Apis Cor, our material benefits from a fast flow and setting time, so the structures can be printed without the need to stop and wait for the layers to harden before continuing on.

  • Insulation

    The same insulation is used for 3D printed walls as regular CMU walls. Following local requirements, different insulation materials are installed on the wall to meet the building developer's desired R-value.

  • Finishing

    Apply any type of finishing materials to achieve the results you want for your design. 3D-printed walls can be covered with stucco or simply painted over. The walls we print are impressively smooth, without the unsightly "sausage effect" — meaning they require less material and effort to finish the wall surface.

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FAQs

  • Construction costs further depend on house design and size, wall envelope, and local requirements for reinforcement and insulation. While there are a myriad of cost considerations, Apis Cor technology can result in cost savings of up to 37% for a finished house in the USA.

  • The printing time depends on wall configuration and infill, as well as the size and design of the house. As a rough estimate, the wall structures for a typical one story single-family home (2,000 sq. ft.) can be 3D printed by Frank within 40 hours of non-stop equipment working time

  • We use 3D printing technology to complete the most time and labor-intensive aspect of construction: the walls or shell of a house. The remaining parts of the house are built using traditional methods, without any changes, and seamlessly integrated with the new technology.

    Like other specialty tools, 3D printers help us accomplish difficult tasks faster and easier. With their assistance, we’ve already taken a huge leap in changing the way we build houses.

  • 3D printing technology automates the most labor and material intensive part of house construction: the walls. As with any automation, this subsequently increases productivity and speeds up the process. Specific to Apis Cor, our technology enhances quality and produces repeatable results with machine accuracy. Altogether, this reduces labor costs, finishing costs, and the risk of human errors, which typically require an investment of time and money to correct.

    Owing to a critical shortage of skilled labor worldwide, 3D printing technology helps to narrow the housing deficit without taking humans jobs. As traditional methods can no longer keep up with demand, we’re putting smart robots to work for the benefit of affordable housing.

  • We opted to structurally mimic the well-documented industry standard CMU walls. This allows us to apply the same techniques that are approved for CMU: reinforcement, insulation, and MEP. Once the walls are printed, the MEP components are installed in the same fashion as CMU-built houses.

  • There is virtually no limit to the available print size. Using his continuous track mobile platform, the printer can reposition itself and continue printing from a new position until it runs out of land to print on.

  • The printer is capable of printing a building with a height of 3.2 meters. However, thanks to its compact dimensions, it can be positioned on a riser to extend the print height. Currently, we limit our build height to 2 floors in order to comply with CMU codes. Just as in CMU construction, the entire house height is first printed and then the wood joists are installed.