New three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) technology from Melbourne-based company Luyten has proven capable of printing a complete fully functional set of units in just 18 hours, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction.
“Using this technology, the cost of a quarantine project could be lowered by 80% in comparison to traditional construction, and 55% compared to prefabricated solutions,” says Ahmed Mahil, co-founder and CEO of Luyten. “Ready to be fitted with utilities and plumbing, these accommodation facilities would be aesthetically pleasing and liveable within just a couple of days. The months, and even years, some projects can take to be constructed is now redundant – the new age of construction is upon us.”
According to Mahil, the construction industry is at a tipping point after a century of stagnation, and Luyten’s technology, which began as a passion project between university mates, has the capacity to shake up the industry: “Just as Ford changed the game with the Model T, Luyten has changed the game with the Platypus mobile 3D concrete printer. The affordability of the Platypus will make it an essential part of the equipment tool kit that small and large construction companies use.”
Founded in 2020, Luyten’s mission is to bridge the technological gap in large-scale construction and manufacturing industries through the introduction of robust automation technologies such as cutting-edge 3D printing. The company designs and manufactures custom large-scale construction 3D printers.
Along with Mahil, the entrepreneurs behind Luyten are Dr Godfrey Keung (Chief Scientific Officer), Michael Stanley (Chief Technology Officer) and Shaun Heap (Chief Information Officer). The four co-founders formed a friendship while at Monash University in the mid-2010s.
Heap explains: “Godfrey, Ahmed, Michael and I developed greater interest through our casual discussions about the global housing crisis, climate change and the lack of automation in the construction industry. We started researching together and meeting on our weekends to dive deeper into these issues. Over the last four years these meetings became more and more regular, which is when we all committed to identifying the issues within the construction industry and attempting to automate it. The four of us then concocted our own unique solution, which has manifested into our company.
“Luyten transforms construction projects that traditionally take months or years to complete, and finishes them within a number of days. The 3DCP technology reduces 60% of construction waste, 70% of production time, and 80% of labour costs when comparing hands-on construction projects. In addition, the technology is proven to increase construction site efficiency with 60% guaranteed costs savings, 300 to 500 times shorter execution times, and an 80% total reduction in monetary expenses without formwork in concrete construction.”
“We are the first start-up of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Luyten has a number of unique selling points, such as its capacity to incorporate acoustic and optical based artificial intelligence for data-driven concrete printing. Our invention also has a patented anti-clogging printer head, which means the technology can produce state-of-the-art results time after time.”
Stanley adds: “When COVID-19 hit, Ahmed, Godfrey, Shaun and I recognised that the passion project we had been working on for all of these years could have saved countless lives. Our original 3DCP solutions could have built more hospitals or quarantine accommodation in a matter of days or weeks, rather than months at the height of the pandemic, and for a fraction of the price.”
Keung adds: “Our technology is bringing to the table the opportunity for the construction industry to become more financially feasible than ever before in history. The Luyten Platypus mobile 3D concrete printer is at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – it is the first mobile gantry and commercial-ready concrete printer in the Southern Hemisphere.”
According to Mahil, a focus area that has surfaced throughout the last 10 years is the environmental impact of construction industry practices. At the latest climate summit called by US President Joe Biden, 3DCP was presented as one of the approaches to address climate change and propagate green technology.
“When forming Luyten, we were cognisant of the construction industry’s carbon footprint, and determined to create construction solutions for generations to come that reduce emissions,” says Mahil. “Our unmatched technology employs up to 40% less carbon dioxide emissions through propriety mixes that reduce use of cement, and the robotic systems reduce construction site and logistics carbon dioxide footprints by 50% to 70%.”
Luyten designs and manufactures custom large-scale three-dimensional concrete printers that cater for all project needs on-site from conceptual design through to the final product. The business offers 3DCP solutions for the incorporation of three dimensional membranes on traditional construction sites, as well as on-site concrete printing consultations, operational assistance, and rental service offerings. Luyten is already in advanced talks with overseas businesses keen to utilise the technology.