At BBR VT International HQ, we’re pushing the limits of digital construction with our new concrete 3D-printing initiative, merging advanced post-tensioning (PT) with a fully digital, end-to-end slab workflow.

From smart slab specification through parametric and topology-optimized design, all the way to automated tool-path generation, we’ve created a seamless digital chain that delivers optimised geometry and reduced material usage.

 Material efficiency through PT-assisted slab design: 

• By integrating our proven PT technology (e.g., from the BBR VT CONA® PT range) into 3D-printed slab formwork, we can significantly reduce concrete volume, lowering resource consumption and environmental footprint while maintaining structural capacity.

Minimal formwork & labor: 

• Because we rely on concrete 3D-printed load-bearing formwork, the need for traditional shoring or formwork labour is drastically reduced therefore cutting down on labor costs, complexity, and on-site time.

Design flexibility & custom slabs tailored to project needs: 

• The digital slab-to-toolpath workflow allows us to customise slab geometry according to architectural or structural requirements which enables more efficient, resource-aware, and project-specific slab designs.

Research partnership with Empa: 

• We’re proud to partner with Empa on this Innosuisse funded project, uniting Swiss academia and industry to fuel the breakthroughs that keep Switzerland at the forefront of global innovation.

At BBR Network, we believe this integration of digital design, 3D concrete printing, and proven PT know-how isn’t just a vision. It’s a concrete step toward smarter, more sustainable construction.

Looking forward to sharing more technical findings and project updates soon! 

The latest publications stemming from this project:

• Design optimisation and assessment of stay-in-place 3D printed concrete formwork for slabs: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106572

• Flexural behaviour of stay-in-place load-bearing 3D-printed concrete formwork for ribbed slabs: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120531

• Load transfer behaviour of 3D printed concrete formwork for ribbed slabs under eccentric axial loads: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.119148

• Digital Fabrication of Ribbed Slabs With Post-Tensioned 3D Printed Concrete Formwork: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2024.09.167