Züblin partners for on-site 3D concrete-printing ‘first’ on housing project

The Instatiq P1 printer lays concrete on-site. Image: Züblin

The pilot is part of a development by GWG Reutlingen in Metzingen-Neugreuth, where the top floor of one of three new apartment buildings is being printed directly on site.

The Instatiq P1 printer, equipped with a 26m mast boom, applies concrete in 16.5 to 19cm thick layers at up to 10cm per second. The system prints solid load-bearing walls rather than formwork, using material from a standard concrete mixer. According to German construction contractor Züblin (part of Strabag), the entire top-floor wall structure can be completed in four days, halving the time required for conventional limestone masonry.

“With 3D concrete printing, we are bringing an innovative and automated process directly to the construction site,” said Chris Brandstätt, Züblin’s group manager for process planning. “This not only saves us time, but also responds to the ever-increasing shortage of skilled workers.”

Instatiq CFO Fabian Schüler said the process offered a clear financial and logistical advantage by eliminating the need for specialised materials and integrating seamlessly with site workflows. The printed concrete mixture is also expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by around 20% compared to traditional masonry.

The Metzingen project will deliver 44 residential units across three buildings, including 18 publicly subsidised and six barrier-free apartments. GWG Reutlingen’s technology head Florian Bertz said the project was part of a broader effort to support innovative and resource-efficient construction.

Looking ahead, Züblin and Instatiq plan to expand the technology through a new joint venture called Nelcon, pending antitrust approvals.

Completion is scheduled for May 2026. 

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