Interview with PrintStones about their mobile concrete 3D printing solution

The startup PrintStones from Vienna deals with the automation of construction operations. They focus on the development of a 3D printing technology for concrete and similar materials, which are used directly on site. This eliminates the need to work with formwork elements. We had the opportunity to get to know PrintStones better through an interview with Herwig Hengl!

3DN: Can you briefly introduce yourself and your connection to 3D printing?

I am a structural engineer and until about 5 years ago I had hardly any connection to 3D printing. I discovered additive manufacturing during my time as a university assistant at the Institute of Mechanics of Materials and Structures.

At that time I was working with finite element simulations and found the topic of topology optimisation very exciting. The aim is to remove weakly stressed zones of an object under load in an iterative process. The result is organic-looking structures with high stiffness and reduced volume. When I was looking for a way to create these objects, I came across additive manufacturing. Our concrete 3D printing activities started about 2 years ago, when we were accepted and supported by INITS, the high-tech business incubator of the city of Vienna.