Concrete printing partners complete another project for Walmart

A 3D concrete printed addition to a Walmart store in Huntsville, Alabama, US. (Image courtesy RIC Technology LinkedIn)

Serving as general contractor was US-based FMGI, which also served as construction contractor on an Alquist 3D concrete printing project for Walmart in Tennessee last year.

The project in Alabama is a 5,000-sq-ft addition, which reaches a height just more than 16 ft. It is meant to expand the Huntsville Walmart’s grocery online pick-up footprint.

The team used two RIC M1 Pro 3D concrete printers, with material coming from Sika USA (subsidiary of Swiss chemical and materials provider Sika) and pump services provided by Austria-based MAI International.

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According to the project partners, print time lasted seven days, including a half-day to set up. The print crew consisted of five individuals.

In all, the project was said to have reduced the schedule by three to four weeks, with material waste reported as less than 4%.

On a social media page, RIC said, “There’s more to be accomplished; engineering and design optimisation, material cost coming down with volume, not to mention, we are operating only about 50% of the current printer performance.”

A RIC 3D concrete printing robot works at the Alabama Walmart site. (Image courtesy RIC Technology LinkedIn)