If in the medical field or industrial equipment, the achievements in 3D printing have for some years found concrete applications, in the world of building and public works, attempts still too often remain at the experimental stage.
Convinced that in the field of construction, 3D concrete printing is full of promise, three players (Chapsol, Sotubema and OB Groupe), experts and recognized in their respective fields, have combined their skills to create the specialized company Carsey 3D :
- Chapsol and Sotubema, a duo of historical industrialists in the public works market, already united within the Carsey Group.
- OB Groupe, public space designer experienced in the world of 3D in the segment of urban decoration and high-end furniture.
Together, they share the same vision: to consider 3D printing as a new complementary industrial path that allows technically enriching a range of products and solutions. Gathered within Carsey 3D, they intend to provide an offer produced industrially in the factory to meet the needs of project managers and clients (local authorities, architects, etc.) for the production of complex and artistic works and products.
A meeting with Sika to change the angle of approach
In order to meet this technical challenge, Carsey 3D relies on the know-how of Sika, world leader in construction chemicals, to develop a technological collaboration around the mastery of printing tools and inks. Local and international teams dedicated to 3D printing support Carsey 3D in the industrialization of 3D printing.
Committed since 2015 to the development of concrete inks for 3D printing, Sika has co-developed a portal printer with a specialized partner. This is offered with the specific ink Sikacrete -7100 3D.
Sikacrete-7100 3D ink is a fiber-reinforced micro-concrete allowing the setting time to be adapted "on demand", in particular allowing the casting of successive layers with optimal precision and exceptional performance: a printing speed of up to up to 1m/s, and the ability to print up to a 40° overhang angle.
An industrial investment now ready to produce
Carsey 3D has just invested in a first 3D printing unit for precast concrete elements. The gantry printer is installed on the Sotubema site in Coubert (77) in addition to its traditional industrial prefabrication tool.
In this context, OB Groupe, specialized in urban decoration, created the dedicated brand Artwork 3D-Print by Carsey 3D. It is aimed at local authorities with an enriched offer of products and solutions that redefine the standards of design, quality and finish.
For its part, Sotubema is enriching its range of products for urban and road development (curbs, road elements, etc.) with new technical proposals and infinite aesthetics thanks to the flexibility of manufacturing specific elements with industrial quality. As for Chapsol, it increases its potential in complex, custom-made prefabricated solutions and adds another string to the bow of its integrated Design Office.
For Alberto Arena, CEO of the Carsey Group and Carsey 3D: “3D printing is a logical and probably major step in the evolution of prefabrication. For SMIs like us, the culture of innovation is vital in order to exist in the face of large groups whose financial, industrial and commercial capacities are infinitely superior to ours. As a prefabricator, we are well aware of the limits of current industrial possibilities. In addition, we have identified the applications that it is sterile to challenge or try to replace. But we are daily confronted with singular points badly resolved and finally "cobbled together" in the workshop or on site. It is in this logic that 3D printing completes our industrial system which has not stopped evolving for 90 years (even very recently with the new innovative and unique press installed in Coubert). 3D concrete printing will give us access to an unrivaled product offer for Sotubema and to unprecedented technical possibilities in prefabrication for Chapsol, designed and justified by our Design Office and produced on our site. With our partners, we share the same passion for creation. »