Amsterdam's Newest Bridge Will be 3D Printed

A steel pedestrian bridge is to be constructed in Amsterdam using on-site robotic printers with the ability to print in mid-air without support structures, several collaborating Dutch design, technology and construction firms have announced.

“We came to the conclusion that a bridge over the old canals of Amsterdam would be a fantastic metaphor for connecting the technology of the future with the city’s historic past, in a way which would reveal the best aspects of both worlds,”  explains Joris Laarman, who is going to design the bridge.

The project is a joint collaboration between MX3D, a firm specializing in robotic 3D printing technology, artist and designer Laarman,  Dutch construction firm Heijmans and other contributors.

MX3D, a firm specializing in the development of robotic 3D printing technology, describes the project as “an intricate, ornate, metal bridge for a special location,” and as the “ultimate test” of its robotic technology, which uses 6-axis robotic machines to create structures in mid-air from steel.

“Using 3D printing for a bridge makes design and construction operate hand-in-hand,” explained Jurre van der Ven from the Dutch construction firm Heijmans.

“For instance, both activities are done at the same time, instead of first building the structure and then adding the design later. This means we will also have to start looking at design in a completely different manner.”

According to Heijmans, the testing phase for the technology will be two years, and the company aims to start printing the bridge in year three. “The eventual aim is to create an automatic construction site,” explained a representative of the company, who has described 3D printing as the answer to the need to coordinate all aspects of the production process, helping to increase efficiency and minimize energy and waste.

A visualization from the designers of how the bridge will be constructed.

“Printing artwork in 3D was an important step in this process, but production technology is now entering a new phase,” said Jan van de Ven, business manager at Heijmans. “ABB [a leading supplier of industrial robots] currently sells 12,000 robots per year in China.”

“Robots, which were previously only suitable for serial production, are now able to do a great deal more thanks to today's ‘computing power’ and the user-friendliness of software.”