5 Reasons Why 3D Concrete Printing Eliminates Costly Mold Problem
- 3DVC Editorial
- Sep 3
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 19
Sep 23, 2025 -
Traditional formwork can account for 30–80% of the total cost in cast-in-place concrete projects, especially when dealing with complex forms or custom geometries (ICE Manual of Construction Materials).
For custom projects like Ithra, producing 140 unique molds would have cost between €140,000–€280,000, based on typical mold pricing of €1,000–€2,000 per unit (1).
Mold production alone can add 10–12 weeks to a project timeline, often exceeding the delivery window in fast-paced builds.
How 3D Printing Solves It?
3D concrete printing allows direct fabrication from parametric models, eliminating the need for physical molds and the time/labor involved in producing them.
By removing formwork entirely, projects typically realize a 30–70% reduction in total fabrication time, depending on complexity (2).
Waste & Sustainability Impact
Printing directly from digital files minimizes overproduction and formwork waste, resulting in 30–60% less material waste on average compared to traditional casting (3).
Additive processes also enable more efficient batching and precise deposition, contributing to up to 30% lower embodied CO₂ emissions across the project lifecycle (4).
Labor Efficiency
3D concrete printing automates major phases of wall fabrication and reduces the need for skilled trades on site.
Projects employing 3DCP report 50–80% reductions in labor demand, especially by eliminating the need for carpenters, formwork teams, and repetitive reinforcement placement (5).
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