China Unveils its First Retractable 3D Printed Bridge

In China, the first retractable 3D printed bridge has been spotted in the industrial center of Shanghai’s Baoshan district, specifically in Wisdom Bay Park. While the area has had a 3D printed concrete bridge since January 2019, this is definitely the first time we’ve seen a structure capable of folding and unfolding on demand. Measuring a little over 30′ (9.34m) long, the bridge is divided into 9 segments and incorporates 36 3D printed triangular panels, each with its own design.

The Baoshan district is an area that promotes 3D technologies in its own right: such as incorporating a museum dedicated to 3D printing and also featuring one of the longest 3D printed bridges in China, at 96′ (26.3m) long and nearly 12′ (3.6m) wide. Additionally it is home to some 20 market players, including the manufacturer XEV, which has opened its R&D center. This time, the innovation goes a step further: a team has come up with a retractable bridge that can be controlled by Bluetooth, made in part by 3D printing.

The bridge retracts in just one minute

Called Transformer – like the famous shape-shifting robots on our screens – the bridge is precisely 30.6′ (9.34m) long, 4.9′ (1.5m) wide and 3.6′ (1.1m) high and weighs about 1873.93lbs (850kg). It consists of 9 retractable segments that can be controlled with a single button. But it is the 36 3D printed panels that interest us most.