Constructing a Building in Just Four Days: 3D Printers and the Construction Industry

Would you believe that a fully functional office building can be completed in as little as four days? In practice, the entire process—from erecting the structural frame to installing facilities and completing construction—reportedly took less than a week. Such speed was made possible by the application of 3D printing technology in construction.

By inputting a three-dimensional digital model of the office into a 3D printer, the structure was fabricated directly from the design data. As similar cases continue to emerge, 3D printing is increasingly being recognized as a transformative technology within the construction industry. In this article, we examine key patent-based technologies related to 3D printers and their application to construction

Overview of 3D Printing Technology

3D printing refers to a manufacturing technology that produces physical objects through additive processes. Unlike conventional printers that output text or images onto paper, 3D printers use three-dimensional modeling files as input and fabricate solid objects by stacking material layer by layer.

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3D Printer

The applicability of 3D printing extends far beyond construction, encompassing sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, and defense. One of its most notable advantages lies in operational efficiency: a single device can manufacture various products simply by changing the input file, while reducing material waste and simplifying production steps. In fact, the aforementioned office building was reportedly completed by just two operators, highlighting the labor-saving potential of this technology.

At the most fundamental level, a typical 3D printing system employs a DLP-based method within a 3D CAD environment. Using photo-curable resin, the printer converts digital 3D modeling data into a physical structure with high precision.

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KR10-2024-0131512, 3D Printer

3D Printers as a New Paradigm in Construction

The most significant strength of 3D printers is their ability to accurately reproduce complex and customized geometries as intended by the designer. This capability makes the technology particularly suitable for the design and construction sectors, where structural form and precision are critical. As a result, various 3D printing technologies tailored specifically for construction have been developed.

One representative example is a construction-oriented 3D printer designed to ensure the uniform mixing and application of mortar—an essential material in building processes. By integrating a mixing module into the printer’s X- and Y-axis frames, the supplied mortar is evenly blended and deposited in consistent layers. This approach improves the structural integrity and overall safety of the constructed building.

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KR10-2024-0039271, 3D Printer for construction

Another notable technology is a three-dimensional printer specialized for concrete processing. This system sprays concrete through a 3D printing mechanism and simultaneously processes its surface to produce concrete components that serve as the structural framework of buildings.

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KR10-2024-0085893, 3D Printer for concrete

The printer is composed of a housing unit, a concrete processing and discharge unit, and a control unit that precisely manages the printing process based on digital 3D models. A key technical feature is its ability to perform post-processing operations—such as cutting and surface finishing—immediately after high-precision concrete deposition, thereby enhancing both dimensional accuracy and surface quality.

 From Digital Data to Physical Structures

3D printing can be regarded as a core technology that transforms digital designs into tangible structures. As global construction industries face mounting challenges from rising material costs and labor shortages, the adoption of 3D printing technologies presents a viable alternative to conventional construction methods. Continued technological development and patent-driven innovation in this field may ultimately position 3D printing as a foundational driver for the next generation of the construction industry.