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NEWS

World’s first 3-D printed concrete bridge opens to public

The first 3D-printed concrete bridge has been completed in
the Netherlands as a crossing for cyclists, but construction
company BAM Infra claims it could take the weight of 40
lorries.
Made from pre-fabricated concrete blocks 3D-printed by
robots, the 8-metre-long bridge forms part of a new ring-
road being constructed around Gemert in the Dutch province
of Brabant.
BAM Infra and Eindhoven University of Technology
collaborated on the project, which they claim is the “world’s
first 3D printed reinforced, pre-stressed concrete bridge”.
A 3D printer laid some 800 layers of concrete to create the eight-metre
It took three months for robots to print the 800 layers of pre- bicycle bridge in the Dutch town of Gemert
stressed, reinforced concrete in sections in the university’s with the need for auxiliary materials, such as formwork.
laboratory.
This greatly reduces the amount of waste and decreases
The unique design uses less concrete than a traditional poured use of scarce raw materials. And this working method also
concrete bridge, making it a more sustainable construction has a positive effect on CO emissions during the production
process. process of the bridge. 2
Innovation plays a crucial role in this. 3D printing does away www.phys.org

ABB and Kawasaki announce collaborative robot

automation cooperation

ABB and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, two global
industrial automation and robot suppliers,
announced that the companies will join forces
to share knowledge and promote the benefits of
collaborative robots, in particular those with dual
arm designs. The global cooperation will become
effective immediately.
This is the world’s first collaboration that
focuses on “cobots” and creation of common
10 industry approaches to safety, programming and
communications

Under the new cooperation, both robot makers
will continue independently manufacturing and
marketing their own offerings while working together on communications.
joint technical and awareness opportunities. This includes The cooperation also represents collaboration across borders,
educating policy makers, NGOs and the general public with ABB as Europe’s largest robot supplier and Kawasaki one
about the benefits of collaborative automation, and creating of Asia’s industrial giants.
common industry approaches to safety, programming and www.abb.com

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| Global MDA Journal | NOV-DEC 2017