Walmart Just Built An 8,000 Square Foot Superstore Expansion With 3D Printing.

Once 3D printing became a commercially viable industry, it was obvious that this technology had the potential to be a game-changer in multiple business sectors. One of those sectors is real estate, where 3D printing has gained acceptance as a construction mode. The industry has matured to the point where Walmart has just completed the largest 3D-printed structure in the country.

The benefits of 3D printing are obvious. It reduces the material cost, labor and time necessary to complete construction projects. Bringing buildings to market faster and for less money translates into increased profit margins for builders. Some of those savings are likely to be passed on to consumers. Commercial developers are following homebuilders and leaning into 3D-printed construction.

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Walmart has partnered with 3D construction specialist Alquist 3D to build an 8,000-square-foot expansion onto one of its supercenters in Tennessee. This project, one of the largest of its kind, will be used as an online pickup and delivery hub for Walmart customers. Walmart is so happy with the finished product that it already has another project with Alquist 3D.

Alquist 3D founder and chairman Zachary Mannheimer sat down with CNBC's Squawk Box to discuss the projects and the future of 3D-printed commercial structures. Mannheimer is proud of the project but said building on this scale was challenging. He told CNBC, "This was not an easy task. Lots of things were learned along the way, but what we have now is a major commercial structure."

 He also noted that the Walmart expansion's 20-foot height was as impressive as its overall square footage, saying, "That hasn't happened before with something this size. So, we learned a ton on this project and we're excited to do the next one.”

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Mannheimer described numerous challenges they had to face in completing the project, such as being able to "pump the material at the speed and height we needed to really save time and move quickly and managing temperature control" were two of the biggest obstacles. He said the high surface temperatures at the project site forced his team to operate at night.

Mannheimer doesn't think he's mastered the learning curve that comes with 3D printing structures of this size but noted that, at peak efficiency, they were able to construct 325 square feet of structure with a crew of only three men in just a few hours. He said 3D printing isn't "dramatically less expensive" compared to traditional construction but believes the potential exists. 

If he's right, how commercial real estate is built could change forever. That means savings for builders and opportunities for investors as new startups and 3D construction companies join Alquist 3D. Keep an eye on this sector because there is room for tremendous growth. Wouldn't you have liked to invest in a concrete pouring business in the early part of the last century? This could be the next best thing.

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