3D Concrete Printing Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

3D Concrete Printing Market Overview

3D Concrete Printing Market size is forecast to reach US$40.23 billion by 2027 after growing at a CAGR of 13.2% during 2022-2027. 3D concrete printing allows the construction of 3D printed structures, houses, and bridges. It allows the construction of designs with flexibility, construction time optimization, cost, environmental factors, and error reduction. Structural components are built layer-by-layer from the high-performance concrete that is emitted from the nozzle with no framework or any vibrations, using Graphic User Interface. This computer-operated robot technology is bringing new and innovative architectural ideas and completely varies to the present architectural structures. Furthermore, 3D concrete printing technology uses a Gantry system, which paves ways for limitless rich décor with new shapes and elements and minimizes waste, compared to current technology that makes new constructions more expensive and difficult. Construction printed in 3D provides immense speed for construction making complex structures easy with high-performance concrete through the shotcrete method and with the use of polyvinyl alcohol. Increasing construction activities in emerging economies are driving the growth of the market. However, the high initial cost associated with the process and lack of awareness regarding this technology are restraining the growth of the 3D Concrete Printing market.

COVID-19 Impact

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to complete or partial lockdown in several countries. This hampered the construction market, and industrial manufacturing was either stopped or had limited production, thereby disrupting the supply chain of the construction industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to the interruption of various manufacturing facilities, disruption of the supply chain, and reduced demand for products from the construction industry. Thus, demand for 3D concrete printing is anticipated to decline in the building & construction sector in 2021. Demand for 3D concrete printing has been declining owing to reduced manufacturing output and delayed construction projects across the globe owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the introduction of vaccines for COVID-19 and the reopening of production facilities gradually are anticipated to lead to the re-initiation of 3D concrete printing companies and construction activities at their full-scale capacities.

Report Coverage

The report: “3D Concrete Printing Market – Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the 3D Concrete Printing Market.

Key Takeaways

• The Asia Pacific dominates the 3D Concrete Printing market, owing to the increasing innovations in the Asia-Pacific 3D printing market which is likely to act as an opportunity, in the future.
• Key factors driving the market include increasing demand for customized and money-efficient constructions, increasing investments in infrastructure, due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, and others.
• The requirement of skilled labor and capital investment for 3D printing is expected to hinder the growth of the market studied.
• In Asia-Pacific, China is one of the leading countries, emerged as a major 3D concrete printing consumer, due to strong government support, efforts toward standardization, and expanding application segments.

 Figure: Asia-Pacific 3D Concrete Printing Market Revenue, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)

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3D Concrete Printing Market Segment Analysis – By Raw Materials

The Cement/Concrete segment held the largest share in the 3D Concrete Printing market in 2021 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.4% during 2022-2027. Cement in 3D construction printing (3DCP) or Concrete printing is a form of additive manufacturing used to fabricate buildings or construction components in completely new shapes not previously possible with traditional concrete formwork. Cement serves as the essential main raw material that goes into the 3d concrete printer. The material preparation stage includes mixing and placing the concrete into the container. Once the fresh concrete has been placed into the container, it can be conveyed through the pump–pipe– nozzle system to print out self-compacting concrete filaments, which can build layer-by-layer structural components. According to World Cement, In 2020, despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, China took a number of measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus and accelerate the resumption of work and production, which ensured a steady economic recovery and enabled China’s GDP to exceed 100 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of 2.3%. In 2020, though affected by the pandemic and flood situation, with the support of infrastructure construction investment and real estate investment, China’s cement industry maintained steady growth. The cement demand which decreased at the beginning of 2020 was reversed and the cumulative cement output in 2020 reached a high level compared to recent years. These are some of the major facts supporting the market growth for the Cement segment in the 3D concrete printing market during the forecast period. 

3D Concrete Printing Market Segment Analysis – By Source

The Ready-Mix segment held the largest share of 38% in the 3D Concrete Printing market in 2021. The ready-mix segment is expected to witness robust growth during the forecast period owing to consistency in quality achieved through digital control of sand aggregates and water particles, coupled with the reduction in cement wastage and pollution-free construction activities. For instance, at the beginning of 2019, scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) developed a 3D printing technology where two robots can work in unison using a specially formulated ready-mix concrete. Demand for Ready-Mix Concrete is expected to soar exponentially and is projected to create an absolute opportunity during the forecast period 2021-2027, having a major impact on the 3D Concrete Printing market as well.

3D Concrete Printing Market Segment Analysis – By Technique

The Extrusion-based segment held the largest share of 52% in the 3D Concrete Printing market in 2021. Each printing technique differs from the others on the basis of its advantages and limitations. As per studies, the extrusion-based technique accounted for the largest share of the 3D concrete printing market. Due to their capability to produce large-scale building components with complex geometrical structures and the usage of conventional construction materials, the extrusion-based technique has become the most widely employed 3D concrete printing technique for buildings and infrastructure. The extrusion-based technique dominated the market in 2019 and is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period due to its capability to produce complex building structures at a larger scale. It has also the ability to produce structures with conventional construction materials. 

3D Concrete Printing Market Segment Analysis – By Printer Type

The Mobile 3D Printer segment held the largest share of 56% in the 3D Concrete Printing market in 2021. The mobile 3D concrete printer and can be used in multiple locations. This printer is ideal for construction companies and precast factories. These kinds of printers operate under two printer types, Gantry system, and Robotic arm. The gantry system dominated the 3D concrete printing market in terms of revenue, and the robotic arm is expected to witness growth at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The Mobile 3D Printer mainly operates with the robotic arm. Its robotic arm sits on a movable crawler with rubber tracks that make it easy to maneuver the printer regardless of the terrain. The hydraulic feet stabilize the machine while it prints and are extendable, increasing the total printable height of projects. The mix-pump system moves mortar through a concrete pump hose to the robotic arm, which then 3D prints in the programmed location. The computer-operated robot is controlled via a control unit that runs through software that uses Graphic User Interface. Hence, Mobile 3D Printer is expected to dominate the market in the forecast period, due to its capability to produce simple building structures at a larger scale in the desired location. 

3D Concrete Printing Market Segment Analysis – By Application

The Walls segment occupied the largest share in the 3D Concrete Printing market in 2021 up to 37%. The walls in 3D concrete printing are one of the most essential structures which are pre-fabricated either on-site or in the factory. This technology offers wall construction with detail, compared to traditional wall building. Moreover, it is convenient to use and saves time. Similarly, the segment of the wall has the largest market share in the 3D concrete printing market, as it provides less labor cost, consumes less space on the site, and has good quality. Hence, it is projected to be the largest market in the 3D concrete printing market, owing to a rise in residential construction. 

3D Concrete Printing Market Segment Analysis – By End-Use Industry

The Residential segment held the largest share in the 3D Concrete Printing market in 2021 and is growing at a CAGR of 10.3% during 2022-2027, due to the impact of Covid-19 Globally. As a result of rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries, the demand for residential construction is increasing day by day. The market for 3D concrete printing in the residential segment has expanded globally, majorly in Asia-Pacific and other emerging economies. The demand for houses is higher than the supply in emerging nations, like South Africa. Moreover, the rise in demand for housing in urban areas has increased, and the government’s National Infrastructural Plan is supporting this growth, with new projects expected in the future. DuBox, modular design, and off-site construction company have already demonstrated UAE’s first, locally 3D-printed concrete building from real-life construction objects. The company partnered with the University of Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, and the engineering consultancy firm, Witteveen+Bos, to achieve this target. During the fifth International Conference for Sustainable Construction Materials, in Dubai, the local government has laid out a plan to have 25% of its buildings 3D-printed, by 2030. The aforementioned factors are expected to drive the demand for 3D concrete printing, during the forecast period.

3D Concrete Printing Market Segment Analysis – By Geography

Asia-Pacific region held the largest share in the 3D Concrete Printing market in 2021 up to 40%. The Asia Pacific is a rapidly growing region of the global market, primarily owing to the rise in disposable income and population in the region. This has led to major growth in new construction projects in the region. China exhibits attractive opportunities for the 3D concrete printing market in the Asia Pacific due to the presence of some prominent innovators in the country, government support, rising awareness regarding the benefits of 3D printing techniques, and an expanding set of applications. The market in the Asia Pacific and some parts of North America is projected to expand significantly in the near future. The growth of the construction sector in these regions is projected to lead to an increase in demand for cost-effective building elements fabricated through 3D concrete printing techniques to complement several new infrastructure development and building construction projects. Increasing infrastructure construction activity is the major driver for the Asia-Pacific construction sector. In addition, the entry of major players from the European Union into the lucrative market of China has further fueled the industry’s expansion. Owing to their business potential, countries, like Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, have become hosts to numerous national and international events. This move has accelerated the demand for hotels, shopping malls, high-rise buildings, and arenas and stadiums (both outdoor and indoor), thereby boosting the construction industry in the respective regions. Thus, construction activity has been growing in the Asia-Pacific, which is expected to boost the 3D concrete printing market. 

3D Concrete Printing Market Drivers

Cost saving on skilled labor and reduction in waste generation

The growth of the global 3D concrete printing market is majorly driven by cost-saving on skilled labor. Skilled labor charges huge amounts for customized and complex construction. The amount spent on wages of these skilled laborers can be saved by using 3D concrete printers. In addition, reduction in waste generation and cost feasibility for mass production are other factors augmenting the growth of the market. The manual construction process generates construction waste, which subsequently leads to its collection activity and further its demolition process. The wastage of concrete increases the project cost for the contractor and the collection & demolition cost for the government. On the contrary, 3D printing generates little waste as compared to the manual process. Moreover, mass production of irregular shapes of objects is easy and economical with the use of this technology. 

Growing demand for complex building structures

The growing demand for complex building structures and the elimination of chemical waste would also propel market growth, coupled with a rise in funding and investments for innovative building techniques. For instance, in April 2019, tech start-up Icon announced that it is raising money to 3D-print durable and affordable single-story concrete homes in El Salvador, which would cost around US$4,000 each, to offset the global housing crisis. The increasing demand for this fast-paced building construction and rapid growth of the construction sector in the developing countries is expected to present new opportunities for business expansion to key market players.

3D Concrete Printing Market Challenges

High capital cost involved

The high capital cost of the printer, its maintenance, and its operating software as well as the hardware acts as the major restraint to the market. The workforces (skilled technicians), extra power supply required for the printers to operate throughout, and maintenance involved account for at least 25% of the total project cost. Often unskilled labor and/or shortage of labor are also seen to hamper the construction progress in between. But surely, increasing the use of technologies including the 3D Concrete Printers would reduce the reliance on human resources with the capacity to increase productivity and improve the occupational safety and health of the workers by reducing risky works are done with innovative technologies like these. The limiting feature on printing size and height has set another drawback, which seems to hamper the expansion of the market globally. 3D concrete printing of giant structures needs a larger setup for the printer to travel and transport the distance. Similarly, 3D concrete printing on height needs cranes or other provisions to hold the printer to the specified height. This increases the capital as well as operation cost of the project, owing to the large setup of the frames, thereby restraining the growth of the global market. 

3D Concrete Printing Industry Outlook

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in this market. 3D Concrete Printing top 10 companies include.

1. Apis Cor
   
2. Cobod International A/S
3. CyBe Construction
4. D-shape
5. Heidelbergcement AG (Italcementi SpA)
6. LafargeHolcim
7. Sika AG
8. Skanska
9. Yingchuang Building Technique (Shanghai) Co.Ltd. (Winsun)
10. XtreeE

Acquisitions/Technology Launches

• In April 2019, The Peri Group, one of the world's leading companies in the field of formwork and scaffolding for the construction industry, acquires a stake in the Danish 3D concrete printing specialist Cobod International A/S based in Copenhagen.
• In 2019, for CyBe, led to even more innovation, with major improvements to both the hardware and software on CyBe printers, as well as the setup and implementation of the CyBe Lybrary and Academy platform. 
  
  

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