Photo: COBOD International

GE Renewable Energy has made a minority investment in COBOD International, a leading player in 3-D construction printing solutions — the company has provided the 3-D printer used at the newly opened Bergen R&D facility in New York.

COBOD is experiencing double-digit growth and is the global market leader within 3-D construction printing with more than 50 3-D construction printers currently installed world-wide.

Matteo Bellucci, GE Renewable Energy advanced manufacturing technology leader, said: “This agreement, which will further strengthen our ability to use COBOD’s 3-D printing technology and competences in the renewable energy space, is another sign of our commitment to help drive the energy transition by investing in technology that promotes a more sustainable, circular design strategy and helps to create local jobs. Since we started cooperating with COBOD, the company has continued to improve its technical competence and innovative solutions, reinforcing the benefits of solidifying the relationship between our two companies.”

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, COBOD founder and general manager, said, “I am extremely proud that such an iconic and world-class company like GE would like to partner with COBOD, and help us deliver on the automated construction solutions of the future. Since 2019, when we began cooperating with GE, we have already sharpened our research and design (R&D) competence, engineering and industrial skills significantly as a direct result of the cooperation, and we very much look forward to continuing benefitting from the vast resources of GE.”

The two companies recently participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the new R&D facility in Bergen, New York, that will conduct research on how to 3-D print the concrete base of towers used in wind turbines. The research, the first of its kind research in the USA, will enable GE Renewable Energy to develop new production methods to make wind turbine towers more efficient and sustainable.

During the event, Mr Lund-Nielsen highlighted that the 3-D concrete printer — the largest of its kind in the world – is the first 3-D concrete printer to have two X axes – one for undertaking the printing of concrete and the other for carrying out the reinforcement — making it as much a multi-functional construction robot as a 3-D printer.

Wind turbine towers is not the only non-residential low-rise application for COBOD’s technology. COBOD’s printers are also known for having printed both offices in Denmark and Austria, schools in Africa, two- and three-story houses and apartment buildings in Germany as well as concrete structures for the oil and gas industry.