Innovative technologies areput at the disposal of construction

The Construction Summit 2016—event sponsored bySobratema between June 15 and 16 in São Paulo to discuss the role of the construction chain in the development of sustainable and intelligent cities—had an area dedicated exclusively to the presentation of innovative ideas and technologies that may ensure more productivity, sustainability and competitiveness to the market. TheMeeting of Construction Startup Companies,carried out in parallel with the congress, attracted mainly a young public committed with modernity. In this area, seven startup companies presented solutions that cover from softwaresto new materials and revolutionary construction methods.

One of these new ideas was presented byUrban 3D, which proposes the use of 3D printers to build popular residences. The proposal intends to create a new method of infrastructure and residence constructionwhich allows not only to build habitable, productive and sustainable urban areasbut also to shorten deadlines and ensure accessible ways and higher quality in the works. This is carried out through the integration of long-term urban planning and interaction with the communities. The expectation is that this process will allow constructionto be carried outten times faster than traditional methodsand at one tenth of its cost, using sustainable materials and producing no waste materials.

“We will not produce residences for three billion people in the next 15 years if we continue to use the resources as we currently do. We need more efficient processes,” saysAnielle Guedes, 22 year-oldcreator of the project, talking about the demand for residences with dignity around the world.

To reach this goal, the Brazilian young girl is supported by three German companies: one in the area of chemistry, another expert in robotics and the third one dealing with heavy equipment. The first company is developing a new product that will replace concrete. This bulk material will cost 30 percent less than traditional concrete and may be transformed in filaments for 3D printing. The other two companies are working with intelligent computing systems for building construction.

In practice, Urban 3D will build low-cost residences using an innovative technology that joins robotics and 3D printing to digitally create series production of pre-formatted modules. Large machines will printpavements, beams, wallswith the new “concrete” that will be developed. Anielle calculates that the final cost ofone house or apartment finished with this process will stay aroundR$ 10,000 and R$15,000.

Urban 3D is working to have the chemical product that will replace concrete available in the market till 2017 and intends to start the construction of the first units in 2018. Since the research of new technologies is easier to be developed in the United States, Aniellewants to install a base of the startup company in that country. She iscurrently supported by a team of six persons, including two interns (one living in Italy and another living in Germany) and two chemical engineers who work in American universities.

The startup company is facing the huge challenge of raisingquickly more capital. Till the end of the year it will receive a national financing, butAnielleis already searching new partners, which may be Brazilian angels (persons that decide to give financial support to new businesses) or investment funds from foreign countries. She knows, however, that one of the strongest obstacles will be breakingparadigms in this market. “There is a lot of resistance. Companies want to use older methods that ensure more power. Our technology will deal with an extremely speculative area (civil construction)”, says her.