Belgian Construction Group Designates BESIX 3D to Specialize in Concrete 3D Printing

June 1, 2020 by Bridget O'Neal 3D Printing Construction 3D Printing Featured Stories

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Motivated by its continued interests in offering niche solutions, Belgian construction company BESIX Group has created BESIX 3D, focused on concrete 3D printing. Born from an idea ‘shortlisted’ by Unleash—an internal innovation program at BESIX Group–BESIX 3D is the product of expansive market research, and a ‘cooperation contract’ with the following:

Ghent University
ResourceFull – sustainability specialists
SIKA – concrete specialists
Witteveen+Bos – engineering

“BESIX 3D combines the engineering and construction capabilities of a large and regionally established contractor, with the agility of a specialized team in the 3DCP technology. Empowered by BESIX legacy and partners, they provide our customers with best-in-class solutions for construction work of every size,” states the BESIX 3D team on its website.

Headquartered in Brussels and founded in 1909, the BESIX Group is focused on construction, property development, and concessions, this international company currently employs around 13,500 employees, is active in 20 countries and is the largest Belgian construction company operating in the Middle East. Its teams are involved in projects for geoengineering, road work, water treatment systems, and the building of cable and pipeline systems. BESIX Group also offers numerous initiatives, serving as a start-up accelerator, and organizing events like hack-a-thons, workshops, and innovation bootcamps.

Offering a complete production process for its clients, BESIX 3D designs concepts fully, performs structural modeling, 3D printing, and assembly, with the team currently making an impact in the construction industry working on projects for other private companies and the government. BESIX 3D’s first 3D printing studio was finally opened in Dubai by a specialized team and project leader Jonas Vandeven:

“The market is moving out of the innovation phase and entering into the growth phase at the speed of light. BESIX 3D Studio has been setup to support the region in its vision to disrupt the traditional approach of construction by offering a one-stop-shop solution to each stakeholders” said Jonas Vandeven, Head of BESIX 3D Division, in a recent press release.

The benefits of 3D printing abound in the construction realm, especially as so many industrial users focus on the versatility of cement, creating a wide range of software, hardware, and new materials and composites meant to complement the needs of what may be large-scale projects. Over the years, this includes residential homes—and even those featuring low-income housing, long-term plans for entire villages, art installations, and more.

“The biggest advantage of 3D printing is the customization of work on a large scale, making projects more aesthetically unique. In the digital world, 3D printing is the logical transition from software to reality,” said Benoit Meulewaeter, Engineering Manager for BESIX 3D.