GrapheneCA inks pact with Apis Cor to disrupt the construction industry with 3D printers

GrapheneCA announced Thursday that it has inked a pact with Apis Cor to develop a 3D printing system capable of printing graphene materials.

The privately held New York-based company, which develops graphene-based technology for industries, is partnering up with Apis Cor, a developer of specialized concrete 3D printing equipment.

They are working on a collaboration where GrapheneCA will design an extruder and mixing system that can be embedded into Apis Cor’s 3D printer.

READ: GrapheneCA creates mobile graphene container system for in-house graphene manufacturing

Together, the two companies are expecting to develop a 3D printing system capable of printing graphene material, said the company in a statement.

The ability to 3D print graphene material could lead to a breakthrough in the construction industry as printers are expected to locally produce materials such as cement, helping to cut associated labor costs and significantly reduce construction time.

Disruptive graphene technology

“Our planned collaboration with Apis Cor demonstrates our dedication to integrate graphene into the real world using cutting edge technologies,” said David Robles, head of business development at GrapheneCA.

“Imagine being able to print a residential 2,500 square feet home in a day, for less than $8,000, or envision a mobile 3D printer that can solve current construction bottlenecks.”

Robles noted these are just a few of the “ample possibilities” under discussion with Apis Cor.

“This could lay the groundwork for making 3D printed graphene a standard material in the construction process,” said Robles.

Mobile 3D printers

According to GrapheneCA, mobile 3D printers capable of locally manufacturing graphene are expected to “greatly simplify” the process of building in remote natural disaster areas, or on islands.

The company pointed out that 3D printers could allow developers to construct buildings able to withhold hurricanes and earthquakes “in a matter of days.” These advances are expected to bring “affordable housing” a step closer to becoming a reality, said the company.

“New materials and its advanced properties will open new horizons,” said Apis Cor founder CEO Nikita Cheniuntai. “Collaborating with GrapheneCA brings us closer to disrupting the 3D printing materials for construction.”

GrapheneCA first began producing pristine graphene flakes in July 2017 from its production facility in Brooklyn, New York.

Its technology has been patented and GrapheneCA is preparing for mass production to advance a number of industrial and commercial applications for its graphene supply.

GrapheneCA has developed a novel Mobile Graphene Container System (MGCS), the world’s first scalable, modular graphene production system, to help companies manufacture graphene in-house in 40-foot containers.      

Graphene has a wide range of industrial uses including being used in steelmaking, brake-pads and dry lubricants. It’s also used in fuel cells, which power hybrid and electric vehicles and in lithium-ion batteries used in portable consumer devices, like laptops and smartphones.

Contact Uttara Choudhury at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive 

Story by ProactiveInvestors