JR West announced on March 11 that it will construct a railway station building using a 3D printer. The project will take place at Hatsushima Station on the JR Kisei Main Line, replacing the old wooden station building. This is reportedly the world’s first instance of a station building being created using 3D printing technology.
The station building, which is just under 10 square meters in size, will have its exterior—including the foundation—printed using the latest 3D printing technology. After printing, the parts will undergo post-processing, such as the installation of rebar and filling with concrete.
Once completed, the parts will be transported to the site and assembled using a crane. The entire assembly process, from putting together the components to completing the building's structure, is expected to take about six hours—approximately the time between the last train of the night and the first train of the morning. This method significantly streamlines onsite work and is expected to reduce construction time compared to traditional methods such as steel frame or reinforced concrete construction.
Additionally, because the building is made of reinforced concrete, it provides excellent durability and resistance to corrosion. Unlike traditional precast methods, which require formwork, this 3D printing technique offers greater design flexibility and enables more creative architectural possibilities.
Viewer Comments:
It’s amazing that it only takes 6 hours to complete.
It looks more like a waiting room than a full station building.
I wonder if it can withstand the summer heat and winter cold.
Comment