“The technique of 3D printing is fully in line with our innovation strategy aimed at accelerating the transformation of our businesses. The definitive integration of this brick of innovation into our activity is the result of the success of two POCs (proof of concept). The challenges that 3D printing can meet are numerous and portend a very strong growth market in the years to come. It is in this perspective that Spie batignolles has decided to equip itself with a first 3D printer intended to produce elements for our own needs and on behalf of other customers ” - explains Jean-Charles Robin, president of Spie batignolles.
"The acquisition of an industrial XtreeE system by our partner Spie batignolles will rapidly develop the use of 3D printed elements on construction projects, in order to increase productivity and reduce the footprint by more than 50%. carbon of certain massive concrete elements (voussoirs, piers or walls). Such a reduction in the carbon footprint can be achieved by optimizing the shape of the elements, which can now be manufactured at controlled costs thanks to 3D printing, and by using low-carbon printable materials ” says Jean-Daniel Kuhn, CEO and co-founder of XtreeE.
From R&D to production
On the strength of the first conclusive tests with the printing of formwork of beam nodes and reservation boxes implemented on its sites, Spie batignolles wished to acquire a 3D printing system in order to extend the field of possible in a high potential market.
The group's strategy is therefore based on two main axes:
- 1st axis: the development of a new printing activity through a catalog of standard or custom printable components on behalf of third parties.
- 2nd axis: productivity gains on the group's sites with the printing of easily replicable elements (reservation boxes for example).
Part of the robot time will also be dedicated to Research and Development of new products in connection with XtreeE and the construction ecosystem.
“3D printing also responds to an environmental issue because the technique saves material. It is a real response to the challenges of shortage of materials and lead times. The technique offers good development prospects with the use of recycled materials, for example. We are only at the beginnings, particularly in terms of technical regulations for obtaining ATEX ”, specifies Frédéric Gaurat, technical director at Spie batignolles.
Considerable printing potential
The concrete 3D printing cell acquired last July by Spie batignolles from its partner XtreeE includes a robotic arm to which is connected the printing system resulting from the technology patented by the start-up. This multi-material printing system can print concrete, but not only: mortars, earth-based materials, plaster and geopolymers are also part of the possibilities.
The robot will be installed on a 2m high pedestal to allow 3 ° 360D printing over a 5m radius and offer a large printable volume up to 5m high.
The 3D printer will be delivered and installed in November on the Spie batignolles hardware platform located in Ollainville (91) and production will start in January 2022 after a phase of training and increasing the skills of the teams.
The 2 engineers dedicated to this new production activity will rely on XtreeE's know-how and will thus continue the partnership started in 2020 between the start-up and Spie batignolles.
With this acquisition and the launch of its new activity, Spie batignolles is fully committed to BTP 4.0 and continues to industrialize its businesses in the service of their performance.