Hyperion Robotics on AM in the construction sector, 3D printing schools in Madagascar, and more

The construction sector has been exploring the potential of additive manufacturing for the past several years. Today, the idea of a 3D printed house does not shock people anymore, as we have seen more than one 3D printed building by now. An increasingly growing number of companies decide to adopt AM for construction purposes. One such company is a Finland-based startup, Hyperion Robotics. Founded in 2019, Hyperion Robotics appeared in international news in summer 2020, when they partnered with an American non-profit organization for an interesting project – 3D printing schools in Madagascar to make education more accessible for the developing African nation. We were curious to learn more about the company that is going to do the actual printing of the schools, so we discussed with Hyperion Robotics’ Chief Design Officer, Dr. Ashish Mohite.

Can you introduce yourself and Hyperion Robotics?

What 3D printing technologies does Hyperion Robotics use?

Our 3D printing system is based on industrial robotic arms. We are currently using Kuka robots in our projects, but we are “robot agnostic” so we are also able to integrate our proprietary software – which can be used by anybody with no technical background – and 3D printing equipment in different kinds of systems. From the materials side, we use a special mix of concrete which uses a reduced amount of cement thanks to recycled waste components and is optimized for different applications and environments. We are working with our industrial partners to develop more sustainable and high performance mixes for 3D printing. We also have a very special method to incorporate reinforcement in the process. We offer our technology as an end to end solution to our customers, just the way construction companies and developers are used to working with subcontractors, and we are able to adapt our offer depending on their needs.