Mapei, Black Buffalo 3D partner on New Mortar

Brief 

Black Buffalo 3D and Mapei have teamed up to produce a special mortar for 3D printing concrete called Planitop 3D. Michael Woods, CEO and chief operating officer of Big Sun Holdings, said the new material “makes 3D printing homes, buildings and infrastructure financially feasible on nearly every level.”

Insight

Black Buffalo 3D, which unveiled its NEXCON 1G 3D concrete printer during the International Builders’ Show in February, announced a collaboration with building materials manufacturer MAPEI to produce Planitop 3D construction ink.

Planitop 3D cement-based construction ink/mortar is designed to work with NEXCON 3D construction printers and was developed through years of research and testing by Black Buffalo 3D, MAPEI, and third-party labs. The ready-mix material is distributed by MAPEI throughout North America and is delivered in 3,000-pound supersacks.

The companies say the ink/mortar is designed to increase efficiency and to quickly set up and support the layers above.”The Black Buffalo 3D team recognized the need for standardization in materials to drive the next phase of growth in the 3D construction industry,” Michael Woods, CEO/COO of Big Sun Holdings, Black Buffalo 3D’s parent corporation, said in a statement.

“MAPEI was able to enhance the formula our team developed and take it to the next level, outclassing every product on the market – that makes 3D printing homes, buildings and infrastructure financially feasible on nearly every level.”

Black Buffalo 3D told World of Concrete 360 that Planitop 3D was developed to be used in many climate regions with a focus on North America and meeting the criteria for ICC-ES AC-509. “We tested it in many different climate conditions, and it performed well under a wide range of temperatures/humidity swings,” said Peter Cooperman, head of marketing and strategy.

“It is also the only formula to be tested to the only building standard for 3D construction in the world. The materials used in the mix were picked based on being available worldwide so it can be available globally by working with Mapei or if they don’t have a production facility, other local manufacturers.”