Black Buffalo 3D Corporation, a leading provider of large-scale 3D construction printers, and MAPEI Corporation, a leading provider of building materials, have announced strategic research, development, and manufacturing partnership for the 3D construction printing industry.
Their first collaboration, Planitop 3D, is designed to work with NEXCON 3D Construction printers to provide superior performance at a fraction of the cost of traditional building materials.
The combination of equipment and materials will be used in Alquist 3D’s recently announced 200-home community in Pulaski, VA.
“The Black Buffalo 3D team recognized the need for standardization in materials to drive the next phase of growth in the 3D construction industry,” said Michael Woods, CEO/COO of Big Sun Holdings, Black Buffalo 3D’s parent company.
“MAPEI was able to enhance the formula our team developed and take it to the next level, outclassing every product on the market – that makes 3D printing homes, buildings, and infrastructure financially feasible on nearly every level.”
Planitop 3D is now available in North America through MAPEI. This cement-based construction ink/mortar was created after years of research, testing, and evaluation by independent and in-house material scientists at Black Buffalo 3D Corporation, MAPEI, and various third-party labs such as Intertek in York, PA.
Planitop 3D is designed to quickly set up and support every layer printed above it, adhering to the strictest standards and created to increase efficiency on the job site and throughout its lifecycle “MAPEI has always been known for its innovation and commitment to assisting communities across the country.
The 3D-printed homes and other structures created with the NEXCON printers from Planitop 3D and Black Buffalo 3D represent technology at its most compassionate, resulting in a more affordable housing market “remarked Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of MAPEI Corporation.
“We are proud to be involved in this evolution in construction and housing.”
While this is the first public announcement, Black Buffalo 3D and MAPEI materials scientists have been hard at work for over a year fine-tuning a cement-based construction ink for the 3D construction industry.
Several 13+ hour print sessions on NEXCON printers by the Black Buffalo 3D team in Elizabeth, NJ, have already been verified by members of the ICC-ES approved lab Intertek.
The verification process included rigorous testing in accordance with the criteria of the ICC-ES AC-509 standard for 3D printed walls. The official results and reporting are expected in the coming months.
