{"id":35715,"date":"2018-11-13T19:32:26","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T00:32:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/building-blocks-winsuns-application-of-3d-printing-in-the-construction-industry\/"},"modified":"2018-11-13T19:32:26","modified_gmt":"2018-11-14T00:32:26","slug":"building-blocks-winsuns-application-of-3d-printing-in-the-construction-industry","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/building-blocks-winsuns-application-of-3d-printing-in-the-construction-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Blocks: Winsun\u2019s Application of 3D Printing in the Construction Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unlike many industries, a construction site today looks very similar to a construction site 50 years ago.[i]<\/a> Construction is an industry that has been slow to adapt and innovate but recent developments in additive manufacturing may be changing that. Historically, additive manufacturing (3D printing) has been used at the front end of the construction process with architects and engineers utilizing the technology to quickly build models and prototypes.[ii]<\/a> Due to continued technology advancements, now 3D printing is reaching the actual construction site. In 2018, there were 65 3D printing related startups offering solutions related to prototyping, software and design, and buildings.[iii]<\/a> One of these companies that has made significant strides with 3D printing in the construction industry is Winsun.<\/p>\n

Winsun is a Chinese firm, founded in 2003, that started as a developer of advanced building materials and now holds more than 125 patents. [iv]<\/a> It has developed the capability to apply additive manufacturing to building construction. In 2014, Winsun built 10 single-room houses in under 24 hours for approximately $4,800 each and has continued to innovate by constructing a five-story apartment building and a 11,840 square foot house in 2015.[v]<\/a>\u00a0 Winsun\u2019s construction process includes creating a CAD drawing of a building, which it then prints in pieces at its factory. [vi]<\/a> Those pieces are then sent to the construction site and assembled.[vii]<\/a><\/p>\n

The continued evolution of 3D printing is significant because it positions Winsun to potentially disrupt and solve inefficiencies in the construction industry. Traditional construction approaches have low productivity and a high material cost.[viii]<\/a> WinSun\u2019s approach is less expensive, takes less time than traditional approaches, and is more environmentally friendly.[ix]<\/a> For example, to construct a cinder-block house takes 15 days and ~$6,500 while a pre-fabricated 3D printed home takes 24 hours and costs ~$4,000.[x]<\/a> To illustrate the speed of the 3D construction process, the 11,840 square foot house Winsun built took one day of printing, two days of assembly and only required three workmen.[xi]<\/a> This is significant because labor typically accounts for 15 \u2013 50% of total construction costs.[xii]<\/a> Additionally, additive manufacturing uses 30 \u2013 50% less material relative to traditional construction and uses recycled construction waste in its \u201cink.\u201d [xiii]<\/a> Winsun\u2019s 3D printing approach helps make \u201chousing affordable, accessible, and customized by and for the masses\u201d and positions the business to benefit from the macro trends of rapid urbanization, housing shortages, and climate change.[xiv]<\/a><\/p>\n

To promote awareness and the adoption of 3D printing, Winsun is focused on promoting education, developing partnerships, and shaping regulatory development. WinSun has produced multiple prototypes and invited industry skeptics to visit its factory to learn more about the technology. It also is collaborating with architecture firms, like the Cornell Design Institute and the Tongii Design Institute, to educate these key players on the uses of 3D printed design and encourage its use. Given the nascent stage of 3D printing in construction, there is little applicable regulation but despite this, Winsun builds structures that are compliant with existing building codes. The firm is focused on influencing the regulatory landscape as it continues to evolve and has worked closely with China\u2019s national construction department. Winsun is also being selective in which markets it enters outside of China. It is looking to target Germany as well as Australia and the Middle East. Germany is a strong opportunity because the country has a strong focus on environmental standards and has an abundance of recycled construction waste. Additionally, Winsun recently announced that it will lease 100 3D printers to a Saudi Arabian construction company as the country intends to use 3D printing to reduce its housing deficit and Dubai has publicly stated that it wants 3D printing to be 25% of its construction by 2030.[xv]<\/a> [xvi]<\/a><\/p>\n

While Winsun is taking proactive measures to promote education and adoption of 3D printing in the construction industry, I think that they should continue to work with regulators to revise building codes, so the code is more relevant to today\u2019s construction standards and incorporates 3D printing. I think that Winsun should continue to produce prototypes and encourage engineers and architects to study and analyze the prototypes and in order to stay at the forefront of innovation, Winsun should focus on developing onsite printing capabilities. This would lessen the transportation costs associated with moving the pieces from the factory to the building site.<\/p>\n

Despite the progress achieved to-date in educating the construction industry and producing successful 3D printed prototypes, the technology still has a long way to go to significantly disrupt the construction industry and gain wide adoption. The outstanding questions surrounding 3D printing of construction materials include how companies should use the technology and if the technology will become the future of construction or just a complement to current construction methods.<\/p>\n

(787 words)<\/p>\n

[i]<\/a> Boston Consulting Group, \u201cWinsun Demonstrating the Viability of 3D Printing at Construction Scale,\u201d World Economic Forum, https:\/\/futureofconstruction.org\/case\/winsun\/<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[ii]<\/a> Victoria Richardson, \u201c3D Printing Becomes Concrete: Exploring the Structural Potential of Concrete 3D Printing,\u201d The Structural Engineer, <\/em>October 2017, https:\/\/www.istructe.org\/getattachment\/4df9a3e5-8809-4c6c-b770-071bc144262e\/Pai-Lin-Li-Award.pdf<\/a>, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[iii]<\/a> de Laubier, Romain, \u201cWill 3D Printing Remodel the Construction Industry?,\u201d BCG<\/em>, January 23, 2018, https:\/\/www.bcg.com\/en-us\/publications\/2018\/will-3d-printing-remodel-construction-industry.aspx<\/a>, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[iv]<\/a> de Laubier, Romain, \u201cWill 3D Printing Remodel the Construction Industry?,\u201d BCG<\/em>, January 23, 2018, https:\/\/www.bcg.com\/en-us\/publications\/2018\/will-3d-printing-remodel-construction-industry.aspx<\/a>, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[v]<\/a> Massie, Caroline, \u201cChina\u2019s Winsun Unveils Two New 3D Printed Buildings,\u201d Architect Magazine<\/em>, January 28, 2015. https:\/\/www.architectmagazine.com\/technology\/chinas-winsun-unveils-two-new-3d-printed-buildings_o<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[vi]<\/a> Massie, Caroline, \u201cChina\u2019s Winsun Unveils Two New 3D Printed Buildings,\u201d Architect Magazine<\/em>, January 28, 2015. https:\/\/www.architectmagazine.com\/technology\/chinas-winsun-unveils-two-new-3d-printed-buildings_o<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[vii]<\/a> Massie, Caroline, \u201cChina\u2019s Winsun Unveils Two New 3D Printed Buildings,\u201d Architect Magazine<\/em>, January 28, 2015. https:\/\/www.architectmagazine.com\/technology\/chinas-winsun-unveils-two-new-3d-printed-buildings_o<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[viii]<\/a> Boston Consulting Group, \u201cWinsun Demonstrating the Viability of 3D Printing at Construction Scale,\u201d World Economic Forum, https:\/\/futureofconstruction.org\/case\/winsun\/<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[ix]<\/a> Boston Consulting Group, \u201cWinsun Demonstrating the Viability of 3D Printing at Construction Scale,\u201d World Economic Forum, https:\/\/futureofconstruction.org\/case\/winsun\/<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[x]<\/a> Mims, C. (2018, Apr 01). 3-D printed buildings are a tech twist on ancient construction techniques; 3-D printed buildings are finally happening, in concrete jail cells, foam homeless shelters and earthquake-proof bungalows. Wall Street Journal (Online)<\/em> Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/2020273112?accountid=11311<\/p>\n

[xi]<\/a> Boston Consulting Group, \u201cWinsun Demonstrating the Viability of 3D Printing at Construction Scale,\u201d World Economic Forum, https:\/\/futureofconstruction.org\/case\/winsun\/<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[xii]<\/a> Victoria Richardson, \u201c3D Printing Becomes Concrete: Exploring the Structural Potential of Concrete 3D Printing,\u201d The Structural Engineer, <\/em>October 2017, https:\/\/www.istructe.org\/getattachment\/4df9a3e5-8809-4c6c-b770-071bc144262e\/Pai-Lin-Li-Award.pdf<\/a>, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[xiii]<\/a> Victoria Richardson, \u201c3D Printing Becomes Concrete: Exploring the Structural Potential of Concrete 3D Printing,\u201d The Structural Engineer, <\/em>October 2017, https:\/\/www.istructe.org\/getattachment\/4df9a3e5-8809-4c6c-b770-071bc144262e\/Pai-Lin-Li-Award.pdf<\/a>, accessed November 2018.<\/p>\n

[xiv]<\/a> Massie, Caroline, \u201cChina\u2019s Winsun Unveils Two New 3D Printed Buildings,\u201d Architect Magazine<\/em>, January 28, 2015. https:\/\/www.architectmagazine.com\/technology\/chinas-winsun-unveils-two-new-3d-printed-buildings_o<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[xv]<\/a> Boston Consulting Group, \u201cWinsun Demonstrating the Viability of 3D Printing at Construction Scale,\u201d World Economic Forum, https:\/\/futureofconstruction.org\/case\/winsun\/<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n

[xvi]<\/a> Clarke, Corey, \u201cWinsun to Lease Concrete 3D Printers to Saudi Arabia in \u2018Billion Dollar\u2019 Construction Deal,\u201d 3D Printing Industry<\/em>, March 21, 2017. https:\/\/3dprintingindustry.com\/news\/winsun-lease-concrete-3d-printers-saudi-arabia-billion-dollar-constuction-deal-108715\/<\/a>, accessed November 2018<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Additive manufacturing is poised to disrupt the construction industry with firms like Winsun successfully building 3D printed buildings. 3D construction is both more efficient and less costly than traditional construction methods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11282,"featured_media":35804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[4102,3340,428],"class_list":["post-35715","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3dprinting","category-additive-manufacturing","category-construction","hck-taxonomy-organization-winsun","hck-taxonomy-industry-construction","hck-taxonomy-country-china"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/rc-tom-challenge-2018\/","yoast_head":"\nBuilding Blocks: Winsun\u2019s Application of 3D Printing in the Construction Industry - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/building-blocks-winsuns-application-of-3d-printing-in-the-construction-industry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Building Blocks: Winsun\u2019s Application of 3D Printing in the Construction Industry - 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