WinSun and AECOM Sign Memorandum of Understanding, Will Collaborate on 3D Printing Construction and Building Design

Engineering, architecture, and construction company WinSun, based in Shanghai and also known as Yingchuang Building Technique, has a lot of experience in 3D printing construction projects, from its garden villas and landscaping projects to its office buildings. The company is collaborating with the Saudi Arabian government in an effort to 3D print 1.5 million homes in five years, and signed a $1.5 billion 3D printing agreement to lease 100 of its 3D printers to a Saudi Arabian contractor. Now WinSun has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with premier global infrastructure firm AECOM. Under the MOU, both companies will collaborate on 3D printing for building design and construction.

AECOM, headquartered in California, builds, finances, and operates infrastructure assets for governments, organizations, and businesses in over 150 countries. The Fortune 500 company is fully integrated, and helps clients solve difficult challenges by connecting experience and knowledge worldwide across its network of experts, located in office locations in more than 50 countries around the world.

The MOU signing ceremony took place during a recent technology conference in Suzhou, China, hosted by WinSun.

“AECOM is the world’s leading infrastructure firm and we are very pleased and honored to partner with them on this strategic global initiative. This collaboration will enable us to further accelerate the development of our construction 3D printing technology and help drive the integration of construction 3D printing technology into planning and design,” said Yihe Ma, chairman of WinSun.

The three-year agreement will allow WinSun and AECOM to jointly pursue opportunities to offer the many benefits of 3D printed buildings, and their components, to their clients around the world; decreased waste generated on construction sites and reduced errors are only two of these potential benefits. Continuing down WinSun’s path with its Saudi Arabian collaborations, the two are already noticing potential project opportunities for Middle Eastern clients.

Ian Chung, senior vice president and People’s Republic of China regional executive of AECOM, said, “The potential for 3D printing to transform the infrastructure industry is still largely untapped and we are excited by the prospect of introducing this capability into suitable future projects around the world in consultation with our clients and in collaboration with Winsun. We are committed to leveraging our strengths in integrated delivery of the built environment and the technology thought leadership of Winsun in construction 3D printing to help our global network of clients achieve faster turnaround times with a lower carbon footprint from the whole construction process.”

The two companies are also expecting to find many other clients in different parts of the world, such as developing regions in Africa and Asia. While Dubai has fully embraced 3D printed construction and Europe is working hard to take the lead, most of the future urbanization around the world can be found in Africa and Asia: as an example, 3D printing technology could be used to surmount local challenges for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is expected to generate multiple new infrastructure opportunities. Discuss in the WinSun forum at 3DPB.com.