Mexico-based
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. has announced that
CEMEX Ventures, its corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, is investing in
COBOD, a global leader in construction-grade 3-D printers. This investment is part of CEMEX´s strategy to deliver a superior customer experience by adopting digital technologies.
CEMEX and COBOD have been working together over the last year to innovate in the 3-D printing space. Through this partnership, they recently introduced a 3-D printing solution that utilises conventional ready-mix concrete in the building process.
The solution can deliver significant savings versus traditional 3-D printing construction methods and has been implemented in several geographies. Through this investment, CEMEX will strengthen its ability to use 3-D printing technology and add another avenue to address affordable housing needs. CEMEX and COBOD also intend to develop additional innovative material solutions for 3-D printing applications.
Current 3-D printing construction methods rely on highly specialised and expensive mortars. CEMEX introduced a proprietary admixtures family called D.fab, which allows conventional concrete to be efficiently tailored for 3-D printing construction. This admixtures innovation produces a more fluid and malleable concrete that facilitates 3-D printing applications. COBOD’s printers and expertise, in combination with the admixtures, make it possible for the concrete to gain shape instantaneously.
Gonzalo Galindo, head of CEMEX Ventures, said: “The investment in COBOD reflects our customer-centric mindset and relentless focus on continuous innovation and improvement. Working with COBOD, CEMEX developed a customer experience in 3-D printing construction that is superior to anything that has been provided in the past. Our innovation efforts position us at the forefront of new technologies that contribute to building a better future.”
Henrik-Lund Nielsen, founder and general manager of COBOD, said: “I am proud to have CEMEX, a global leader in the building materials industry, join us as an investor along with our other shareholders
PERI and
GE Renewable Energy. CEMEX is already an important partner to us.
“Together, we have already improved 3-D construction printing tremendously with the successful D.Fab solution and we intend to continue to develop new, innovative materials to build a better future through material solutions for 3-D printing applications that significantly reduce construction costs and time.”