A project demonstrating 3D concrete printing in the water industry aims to enhance infrastructure development.
Led by United Utilities with partners ChangeMaker 3D, Manchester Metropolitan University and Scottish Water and supported by the Ofwat Innovation Fund, the project focuses on improving efficiency and addressing environmental concerns.
United Utilities has established a 3D printing hub at its Wigan Wastewater Treatment Works, speeding up asset production compared to traditional methods.
This approach reduces safety risks and offers cost and environmental benefits, the company said.
Ian Watt, Scottish Water’s Beyond Net Zero Delivery Manager added: “We have already employed a variety of techniques such as off-site construction, recycling core materials and using low carbon concrete to move towards achieving our ambitious targets.
“By thinking ‘clever’ and adapting traditional methods to modern needs and aspirations we can build on our successes and 3D concrete printing is certainly a method that could work very well for us.”
