Below ground, fully printed: the basement that redefines concrete construction

  • In southern Germany, a construction site became the stage for a world first: for the first time, a basement level was 3D‑printed directly on site using a mobile concrete printer.

Instead of installing and stripping formwork step by step, the project team relied on digital planning, a mobile 3D concrete printer, and ready-mixed concrete delivered just in time. Layer by layer, the basement walls took shape – fully automated and with high precision.

Specially developed 3D printing concrete from Weißenhorn

For this project, Heidelberg Materials Deutschland supplied a specially developed 3D printing concrete from the Weißenhorn plant. The mix was tailored specifically for mobile large-scale printing:

  • High pumpability over longer distances
  • Stable layers that keep their shape during printing
  • Rapid strength development to support subsequent layers

These properties are essential for a reliable, continuous printing process and enable the robot to produce a basement structure that meets the demanding performance requirements of below‑ground construction.

The project shows how concrete technology, digital planning, and robotics come together to make construction processes more efficient and predictable.

 

3D concrete printing as a lever for decarbonisation

3D concrete printing is an important element of our ambition to decarbonise the construction industry. Through robotic automation, this building method can:

  • Reduce material usage through optimised geometries
  • Avoid traditional formwork waste and minimise process waste
  • Increase process efficiency and safety on site
  • Offer enhanced design freedom for architects and planners

You can find more about how 3D printing contributes to lower emissions and higher resource efficiency in our dedicated insight on 3D concrete printing.

Driven by data, connected by digital ecosystems

Projects like the 3D‑printed basement are closely linked to Heidelberg Materials’ digital strategy. Across the Group, we are building a digital ecosystem that connects materials, processes, and partners – always with a customer‑centric mindset.

By using real-time data and digital workflows, we can:

  • Plan and control printing processes more precisely
  • Reduce waste and optimise resources on site
  • Integrate 3D printing into broader digital services for our customers

Our digital strategy focuses not only on adapting to digitalisation, but on leading the way.

A step towards scalable mobile 3D printing

Basements are safety‑relevant and highly stressed components of a building. Successfully 3D‑printing such a structure on site is therefore more than a technological showcase – it demonstrates that mobile 3D concrete printing can also deliver complex, demanding elements in real‑world conditions.

For Heidelberg Materials, the pilot project is an important step to:

  • Gather operational experience for future mobile 3D printing applications
  • Better understand which components and use cases are most promising
  • Further develop high‑performance, potentially CO₂‑reduced concretes for automated construction

The project builds on our broader activities in 3D concrete printing – from single residential buildings and serial housing concepts to Europe’s largest 3D‑printed building – and supports our Strategy 2030 ambition to combine sustainability, digitalisation, and technical excellence in concrete applications.

Further information on our products and reference projects is available on our country websites, e.g. Heidelberg Materials Germany.