First 3D Printed Water Chamber Created in The UK

Recently, British water supply company United Utilities and 3D printing service ChangeMaker 3D successfully demonstrated the use and benefits of 3D printed components in the UK water industry. The discovery, which is the result of a twelve-month-long collaborative work between the two companies, showed a significant reduction in carbon, cost, and labor compared to conventionally produced units. By confirming those benefits, the team was able to shine a light on the huge potential of 3D printing in construction, which could also prove to be beneficial for other sectors.

Most times, when additive manufacturing is mentioned in relation to construction, the first thought that comes to our minds is most likely the 3D printing of houses. It is true that during the last few months, many house-building projects involving 3D printing have been established, and with technologies becoming more and more advanced, it is highly likely that there will be a lot more to come. Aside from the construction of homes, however, there are a variety of other ways that concrete 3D printing can be used.

When United Utilities teamed up with ChangeMaker 3D in early 2021, their goal was to use concrete 3D printing to create an environmentally-sustainable and economically beneficial water chamber, that would significantly reduce the carbon footprint. Starting off with a 12-week design phase, the two companies deliberated on what component would be best to design and demonstrate, and ultimately chose a wastewater distribution chamber, which is a technically challenging and carbon-heavy element.