India Opens the Country's First State-of-the-Art 3D-Printed Post Office

L&T Construction, India's construction company giant, has introduced the nation's first 3D-printed post office, an impressive feat accomplished in just 43 days.

Employing COBOD's BOD2 3D construction printer, this achievement highlights the substantial potential of 3D printing technology in reshaping the construction sector.

India's First 3D Printed Post Office

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, took to his social media platform to share this milestone, expressing pride in India's first 3D-printed post office at Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru. He lauded it as a testament to the nation's innovation and progress, reflecting the spirit of a self-reliant India.

"Every Indian would be proud to see India's first 3D printed Post Office at Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru. A testament to our nation's innovation and progress, it also embodies the spirit of a self-reliant India. Compliments to those who have worked hard in ensuring the Post Office's completion," the Prime Minister said in a statement.

Union Railways & Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw initially drew attention to the project in April through social media, adding to its already notable profile.

The inauguration of the post office last week by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw further highlighted the Indian government's commitment to using cutting-edge technologies for national development.

Vaishnaw said that Bengaluru continually presents a fresh perspective of India. He noted that the newly unveiled 3D-printed post office symbolizes India's current spirit and exemplifies the nation's progress.

How the 3D-Printed Office Came to Be

The post office occupies a floor area of 1,021 square feet (94.9 m²), and according to L&T, it is estimated to have incurred costs of 2.6 million rupees (approximately US$31,200), a figure roughly 40% lower than what conventional construction methods would have entailed. Additionally, L&T, known for 3D printing India's first two-story building, created this project in record time.

George Abraham, Head of Operations (South and East) at L&T, emphasized the rapid execution in his inaugural speech, attributing it to the integration of robotics and pre-embedded designs.

This approach enabled the completion of the entire construction process in a mere 43 days, a stark contrast to the approximately eight months typically required using conventional methods.

"It is because of the robotic intervention that involves pre-embedded designs, that we were able to complete the entire construction activity in a period of 43 days as compared to about 8 months taken by the conventional method," Abraham said in a statement.

Simon Klint Bergh, COBOD's Co-Founder and Head of APAC, commended L&T's achievement, noting how they've effectively harnessed the capabilities of 3D construction printing.

He expressed anticipation for more groundbreaking projects from Larsen & Toubro in the near future, underlining their role as innovators actively shaping the future of construction technology.