XtreeE and VINCI Construction Partner to Advance 3D Printing in the Construction Industry

French construction firm VINCI Construction has a portfolio of projects that are striking, sturdy and sustainable, ranging from climate-controlled stadiums to bridges designed to withstand cyclones and floods. The company is not lacking in advanced technology, but they’re about to get even more advanced thanks to a new partnership with fellow French company XtreeE. The young startup specializes in large-scale 3D printing, and was formed by a group of digital technology enthusiasts whose goal is to accelerate the technological reinvention of the construction industry.

XtreeE is currently working with Dassault Systémes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, which you’ve likely been hearing a lot about over the past week as SOLIDWORKS World 2017 went on. XtreeE has already completed some pretty impressive 3D printed concrete projects, but by working with the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, they’re gaining access to a tremendous amount of resources including cloud-based design, simulation and manufacturing solutions as well as the mentoring of Dassault Systémes’ experts.

XtreeE’s 3D printed demonstrator pavilion

When we talked with Frédéric Vacher, Head of the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, at the conference this week, he told us a bit about what XtreeE has been doing with 3DEXPERIENCE – and it’s encouraging. Apart from working with major corporations like ABB on large-scale 3D printed construction projects, XtreeE has a vision for using 3D printing and 3DEXPERIENCE software to design structures that will better the world – a vision that Dassault Systémes shares.

“These labs are changing things already,” Vacher told us. “3D printed structures could be used in Africa and other areas as a solution…We innovate now as we were not before. The value is working together, we can do it better.”

The XtreeE team

That’s clearly a mindset shared by XtreeE and VINCI Construction, which both stand to benefit significantly from the new partnership. XtreeE will be able to grow and expand more quickly, while VINCI Construction will gain access to XtreeE’s expertise in 3D printing, giving them an edge in the race to lead the construction industry in advanced technology.

“3D printing offers revolutionary potential for the construction sector and VINCI Construction plans to be in the vanguard of the move to introduce it,” said Jérôme Stubler, Chairman of VINCI Construction. “Following the recent creation of a joint venture with the SunPartner company aimed at developing the solar technologies of the future, this partnership with XtreeE is a further illustration of the drive to innovate in construction.”

In addition to collaborating with XtreeE to explore and develop 3D printing solutions for the construction industry, VINCI Construction has also acquired a stake in the company.

VINCI Construction’s bridge over the Saint Etienne River

“This agreement is a new step forward in the expansion of our company,” said Phillipe Morel, Chairman of XtreeE. “We strongly believe that our 3D printing technology will be a central part of the next wave of groundbreaking developments in construction. The partnership with VINCI Construction, a world leader in the sector, will enable us to develop new solutions around the world.”

Based on what XtreeE and VINCI Construction have done already as individual companies, we can’t wait to see what they’ll create together – especially with the help of the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab.

Here’s a quick look at XtreeE’s technology:

Discuss in the XtreeE VINCI forum at 3DPB.com.