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COBOD – 3D Printing the Building of Tomorrow

Finished building - COBOD modular 3D Printer

3D printing has revolutionized the way we think about a huge section of the manufacturing industry, forever changing how we approach home creation, rapid prototyping, outsourced manufacturing, and even food. 

COBOD, which stands for Construction of Buildings on Demand, is a Danish company that is extending our understanding of what can be done with 3D printing in construction.

COBOD is a global leader in construction-grade 3D printers, providing construction companies with macro-scale printing solutions that enable the construction of fully 3D printed buildings. 

The company originally made its impact on the 3D printing and construction industries when it printed the first in Europe. 

This first building was known as the “The BOD” or building-on-demand and demonstrated that 3D printed structures could be made to comply with European building codes.

The lessons learned building the BOD were incorporated into the company’s  2nd generation printer, the BOD2.

In 2018, the company won the first-ever EU tender for 3D construction printers with the BOD2. On the back of that win, the PERI Group acquired a substantial stake in the company. 

As the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of scaffolding systems, the Peri Group provided the capital needed for COBOD to expand and provide construction companies across the globe with their revolutionary new BOD2 printer. 

What COBOD does

At its most simple, COBOD provides macro-scale construction-grade printers to construction companies around the world. 

The BOD2, their most advanced printer, is a modular system. The basis of the printer is a central gantry to which several modules can be attached.  

The gantry style of printer, as opposed to the robotic arm style printer, is more user-friendly, allowing construction firms to access the benefits of 3D printing in construction without the need for specialised training.

When it comes to the design of the BOD2 itself, it is actually fairly similar to a fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer. The nozzle extrudes a variety of construction materials, usually concrete while moving along a supporting structure. 

Because of its modular nature, the BOD2 can be adapted to a range of construction projects. The printer is currently capable of producing 2000 square foot (180m2) floors on 3 stories for a 6000 square foot (540m2) building.

BOD2

The benefits of using a COBOD printer for construction projects

There are some clear benefits to using the COBOD printer for construction projects, including: 

 

  • Fast build times –  According to COBOD, the BOD2 printer was able to complete the walls of a school building in Malawi in just 18 hours.

 

  • Flexible modular construction – The BOD2 printer uses a central gantry with additional modules that can be adapted to the specific needs of a project. The modular nature of the BOD2 printer also makes it easy to export overseas.

 

  • Proven construction abilities – The BOD2 printer isn’t a theoretical device. It has already been used across the world in a variety of construction projects, from wind turbines to affordable housing.   

 

  • Easy to use – Unlike the more complicated robotic arm style of printer, the BOD2’s gantry system makes it simple enough to use that it does require a vast amount of specialised knowledge to be practical.

 

  • Able to create durable structures – One of the major issues associated with 3D printing in construction is the ability to print buildings that comply with local regulations. The BOD2 printer has so far produced buildings in Africa, America, Europe and Asia, that comply with local building codes.

The future of 3D printing and its impact on the construction industry

The technology used for 3D printing in construction is still evolving, but COBOD and the BOD2 are a demonstration of the potential of 3D printing construction. 

The ability to print the basics of a structure in as little as 18-hours using affordable materials and that complies with local building ordinances is a huge step forward in how we approach construction.

As the technology behind 3D printing in construction continues to be pushed forward by companies like COBOD, the opportunities for 3D printing to fully revolutionise the construction industry continue to expand.

 

Why you should invest in a COBOD printer today!

Investing in a COBOD printer offers construction companies the ability to quickly and easily produce simple and affordable structures in a short time frame. 

The modular gantry-based BOD2 has a proven track record on a number of constructions in countries across the world and is flexible enough to bring its time and cost-saving benefits to a huge range of potential projects. 

Adar Hay
Adar Hay
Co-Founder and CEO of Jiga. Adar is a tech industry revenue leader with vast experience in product and marketing management. He's driving Jiga's mission to make parts sourcing frictionless.

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