Government project

SUZHOU, November 8, 2019 – The world’s first fully 3D printed river revetment wall of 500 meters is delivered by Winsun Building Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd along the Suzhou Creek in China. The wall consists of separate 3D printed modules that provide the necessary protection against the strong river current.

Let us explain why this is an important project that shows the advantages of 3D Printing in comparison to traditional methods of waterway protection works.

Obviously, with the rising water level, the pressure in lower situated land is higher to develop fast and sustainable solutions that help to protect the land vanishing into the river or sea. Even a small increase can have devastating effects on coastal habitats farther inland, it can cause destructive erosion, wetland flooding, aquifer, and agricultural soil contamination and lost habitat for fish, birds, trees and plants, etc.

This ecologically developed riverbank shoreline is integrally formed and functions of retaining the earth and to defend the shoreline from impact by the waves and the strong current, and collapsing under the pressure of the rising water level, caused by co-acting forces, such as water erosion, corrosion, earth pressure, and underwater osmotic pressure.

In recent years, riverbank repair projects often require building materials, such as concrete or customized designed bricks for the construction of solid walls and dams. Although these solutions are stable and provide the necessary protection, they are also expensive and complicated to construct. Also, it is unfortunate that many of those projects did not intend to protect the existing eco-systems. Due to the lack of affordable solutions that can protect nature and provide the required protection. The excavation and foundation-laying in the conventional way of construction can pollute the river and can destroy the integrity of its ecosystem that can cause environmental problems.

3D Printing Construction is a new development that allows for an improved river revetment function that is enabled by 3D printing construction technology. 3D printing technology allows for creating a riverbank bank that follows its original movements, and on top provides endless possibilities to keep or increase the high-quality living environment for the local flora and fauna.

Besides it enables to keep of the original “water flow” function intact, it has now evolved into a better solution that provides both flood control and at the same time preserves its original ecological functions. The modules are set above the riverbank and provide a natural habitat for plants to grow on. This provides a safe, and green recreational spot with beautiful aesthetics for coastal residents and visitors.

On October 17th, 2019 a high-level delegation of directors or the largest Chinese construction corporations visited this example project and they unanimously agreed on the positive impact that 3D Printing can have for this kind of project, and also many other projects that require quality, speed, and precision construction.