Baumit BauMinator®: Pavilion as a best-practice example for sustainable concrete 3D Printing
Innovative ceiling structure saves up to 45 percent weight and over 30 percent CO2.
Wopfing, 8. October 2024 – A unique pavilion has recently been erected near the Viva Research Park in Wopfing. On one hand, it serves as a modern shelter for many visitors, and on the other, it stands as a best-practice example of the Baumit BauMinator 3D concrete printing. What makes it special: what you see on a small scale in the pavilion, covering approximately 80 square meters, has already been successfully implemented in large-scale projects. With this 3D-printed pavilion, Baumit sets an example for resource-efficient, automated, yet highly individualized construction.
„The Baumit BauMinator® places concrete exactly where it is needed and leaves it out where it is not. This allows components like concrete ceilings and walls to be produced quickly and with significantly reduced weight. For our pavilion in Wopfing, we were able to build about 45 percent lighter compared to conventional planning while saving over 30 percent CO2,"explained Robert Schmid, owner and CEO of Baumit, during the official opening.
How the 3D-printed ribbed ceiling system works
3D-printed void formers, optimized for structural performance, are placed on a formwork plate with the open side facing down. Reinforcement and eco-friendly concrete are then added between them. The result is a two-way spanning ribbed ceiling that already meets the CO2 targets for 2030. For this reason, the Baumit BauMinator® team received the German Architecture Concrete Award in November 2023 for the underground garage entrance project in Nördlingen, Germany.
The new ribbed ceiling system, developed by Baumit and the Institute for Structural Design (ITE) at TU Graz, has already been implemented in Austria and Germany, including all necessary testing. Ceiling sizes of over 700 square meters have been realized. These ribbed ceiling systems can be seen in Lunz am See, Nördlingen (Germany), and Bludenz – with follow-up projects already in progress.
BauMinator® - 3D concrete printing by Baumit
To fulfill the vision of high CO2 reduction through significant material savings, modular construction, and short production times via high automation, Baumit has developed the BauMinator®. This is a perfectly coordinated overall system comprising special mortar, robots, pumps, and software. Set up - switch on - print - the system can be used both stationary and in the production line of a precast plant within a day. Although layers are printed one on top of the other, the material is as homogeneous as cast concrete. Components measuring approximately 2x3x0.4 meters can be printed in just two hours. Upon exiting the nozzle, a strength is already achieved that allows for printing at angles of up to 60 degrees. The process is 100% digital up to the actual printing stage — a fundamental prerequisite for the future. Partners are already available in Germany and Austria for the implementation of projects.
"3D concrete printing has already found its place in the automated production of components and elements, and it is an important cornerstone for future-oriented, automated, and resource-efficient modular construction," says Eduard Artner, head of the 3D concrete printing business unit at Baumit.