Leaders of a pioneering undertaking to develop 3D printed infrastructure and parts for the water sector might be sharing insights from 5 years of analysis.
The Water Trade Printfrastructure undertaking has been led by United Utilities in partnership with ChangeMaker3D, Manchester Metropolitan College’s PrintCity and Scottish Water. Funding got here from Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Problem with Spring Innovation because the knowledge-sharing companion.
The undertaking staff will be part of a showcase webinar facilitated by Spring on 28 November 2024, to focus on learnings and focus on how the analysis, which concludes in early 2025, might be scaled-up to offer resilient and sustainable infrastructure for water.
Each concrete and polymer 3D printing had been explored in a sequence of research because the Printfrastructure undertaking launched in 2023, reaching a number of UK water {industry} firsts. They embody a undertaking headed by PrintCity, a 3D manufacturing facility based mostly inside Manchester Metropolitan College, to create substitute components by 3D scanning, laptop aided design (CAD) and 3D polymer printing.
Three printed objects – a wastewater jet nozzle, CCTV skid plate and trough for water monitoring devices – are being utilized by United Utilities in on a regular basis operations, following rigorous testing and trials. Laboratory gear has additionally been printed and is being utilized by each Scottish Water and United Utilities.
For water corporations, the flexibility to print substitute components on demand can handle challenges round gear availability, supply occasions and rising prices, serving to scale back reliance on suppliers and construct in-house resilience. Sooner undertaking turnaround time, lowered price and decrease environmental impression are additionally key advantages.
One other {industry} first noticed the opening of a short lived 3D concrete printing hub at United Utilities’ Wigan Wastewater Therapy Works in June 2024. The power was created with know-how from 3D print specialists ChangeMaker3D, which started working with United Utilities in 2021 when it was chosen to participate within the firm’s Innovation Lab programme.
The hub printed a variety of concrete infrastructure, together with mixed sewer overflow chambers and Industrial Emissions Directive containment partitions. Printed belongings might be used on United Utilities and Scottish Water websites in future. The power was additionally used as an illustration facility to showcase the know-how to the water and building sectors, together with different industries.
Findings from the polymer and concrete Printfrastructure research, in addition to the group’s analysis into carbon and social worth and commercialisation of 3D printing, might be shared on the upcoming webinar.
Lisa Mansell, chief engineer, innovation and carbon, United Utilities, mentioned: “The Water Trade Printfrastructure undertaking is remodeling 3D building printing from an innovation into an accessible software to assist on a regular basis operations, drive efficiencies and assist meet environmental targets.
“We are seeing tangible results from the printing processes developed by the project team, which have potential for adoption at scale. The technology presents many more exciting opportunities for the sector, and we look forward to showing just what is possible.”
Nick Hurst, technical specialist at Manchester Metropolitan College – PrintCity, mentioned: “This collaborative undertaking helps flip 3D printing into business-as-usual, an method that might be game-changing for the sector.
“A number of the undertaking’s outcomes – such because the profitable printing of polymer spare components – are already making a distinction on the bottom and delivering important carbon, price and labour financial savings. PrintCity has been working with the operational groups to reinforce the designs, bettering sturdiness and guaranteeing components will be maintained extra successfully.
“Custom parts have also been designed and 3D printed. As the project nears completion the showcase webinar is a great opportunity for the team to share insights with the rest of the sector.”
Ian Watt, capital funding web zero supervisor, Scottish Water: “The water {industry} is planning to spend a document quantity on infrastructure through the subsequent asset administration interval, with an bold capital programme that may solely be delivered by new approaches and innovation.
“The Printfrastructure undertaking has proven that 3D building printing can ship a 25% discount in carbon, 20% price saving and 55% discount in labour, versus conventional strategies. Belongings will be constructed shortly, with a discount in supplies, making a safer, extra environment friendly working setting and serving to meet carbon targets.
“After three years of collaborative research, feasibility studies and rigorous testing, we are on the cusp of being able to scale-up this exciting technology and look forward to showing the sector what can be achieved with 3D printing.”
United Utilities: Creating Inexperienced Infrastructure with Water Trade Printfrastructure webinar takes place on 28 November 10am-12. To register: https://spring-innovation.co.uk/occasions/united-utilities-creating-green-infrastructure-with-water-industry-printfrastructure/
