Applications for 3D printing use have increased throughout the construction industry, with projections that it could expand from $3.42 billion in 2022 to $519.49 billion by 2032.

Among its benefits are speed, efficiency, design freedom, lower environmental impact and reduced waste. With the threat of new tariffs and the fact that the cost of structural steel has climbed 91% since 2020, there could soon be a financial benefit to using 3D printing.

Researchers with the University of Maine recently used 3D printing to construct an organic building material that has the strength of steel. They printed a SM²ART Nfloor as a single piece in about 30 hours—roughly one-third faster than it could be done by hand, according to TechXplore.    

The material to construct the Nfloor consists of a bioplastic made of approximately 20% bamboo and 80% polylactic acid (PLA). PLA is a material often used in 3D printing. Made of corn residue and wood flour from lumber processing, it is fully biodegradable. Alternatively, it can be recycled for future use. Nfloor is also capable of scalable production.

Another advantage of using 3D printing for construction is that the panels can be printed offsite and shipped to the job site for assembling. With channels for electrical and plumbing already in place in the floor, the only work that needs to be done on-site is soundproofing and floor covering.

“The next steps will be to make the manufacturing process faster, more efficient and cost-effective with additional functionality,” said Scott Tomlinson, a research engineer with the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. “This technology holds a lot of promise for the future of sustainable buildings.”

Two- and three-story houses and even basements have been built using 3D printing techniques as the technology evolves. Researchers continued to develop innovative methods and materials, such as a new resin type that offers improved recyclability.

Affordable housing and supply chain issues are challenges to the construction industry. The massive rebuild that will be needed in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires could tax both those issues and underscore the demand to speed up construction. Use of 3D printing may offset many of these complications.