ZÜBLIN and INSTATIQ Debut On-Site 3D Concrete Printing for Low-Carbon, Rapid Construction

ZÜBLIN and INSTATIQ Debut On-Site 3D Concrete Printing for Low-Carbon, Rapid Construction

(IN BRIEF) ZÜBLIN and INSTATIQ have successfully implemented on-site 3D concrete printing for GWG Reutlingen’s new apartment complex in Metzingen‐Neugreuth, demonstrating rapid, solid-wall construction with standard concrete and a 26 m automated boom. This method halves build time compared to conventional masonry, eases skilled-labor constraints, and reduces dust and noise. Digital planning replaces paper blueprints for fewer errors, while a low-carbon concrete mix cuts CO₂ emissions by 20 percent. The pilot’s 44 sustainable homes—18 publicly subsidized and six barrier-free—will complete by May 2026. With pending approval, the joint venture NELCON will scale this solution across the construction sector.

(PRESS RELEASE) STUTTGART, 31-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — ZÜBLIN, in partnership with technology provider INSTATIQ, is introducing 3D concrete printing to mainstream construction projects of all sizes. The groundbreaking method debuted atop one of three four-storey apartment buildings for GWG Reutlingen in Metzingen-Neugreuth, signaling a transformative shift for the industry.

On site, an Instatiq P1 printer’s 26-meter automated boom extrudes layer-by-layer concrete walls up to three meters tall and 16.5–19 cm thick at speeds reaching ten centimeters per second (2.5 m³/hour). ZÜBLIN’s process prints solid, load-bearing walls directly from a standard concrete mixer—slashing build time in half compared to traditional limestone masonry and reducing reliance on specialized materials and skilled labor, all while lowering dust and noise for workers.

“In just four days, we can erect a full story’s load-bearing walls using half the time of conventional methods,” explains Chris Brandstätt, Group Leader for Process Planning at ZÜBLIN. “This automated approach not only speeds up schedules but also helps address skilled-labor shortages and improves on-site conditions.”

Fabian Schüler, CFO of INSTATIQ, highlights the financial and logistical benefits: “By printing monolithic walls on site with conventional concrete, we eliminate costly material transport and fit seamlessly into existing workflows. Our solid-wall capability sets us apart from printers limited to formwork.”

The digital nature of 3D printing also streamlines quality assurance: digital plans replace paper blueprints, reducing errors and enhancing consistency. Moreover, the proprietary concrete mix cuts CO₂ emissions by about 20 percent versus standard limestone masonry, reinforcing ZÜBLIN and INSTATIQ’s commitment to climate-friendly construction.

“Beyond erecting buildings, we aim to foster local innovation,” says Florian Bertz, Technical Department Manager at GWG Reutlingen. “Testing resource-efficient methods like 3D printing demonstrates our responsibility for the future of construction.”

The Metzingen site will feature 44 energy-efficient apartments—18 subsidized and six barrier-free—ready in May 2026. Pending antitrust approval, ZÜBLIN and INSTATIQ will commercialize their joint venture, NELCON, to offer this scalable 3D printing service industry-wide.

Ed. Züblin AG
Stuttgart-based Ed. Züblin AG, with approximately 16,000 employees and an annual output of around € 4.6 billion, is one of Germany’s largest construction companies. ZÜBLIN, which has been successfully realising challenging construction projects in Germany and abroad since 1898, is the STRABAG Group’s leading brand for building construction and civil engineering. The range of services covers all construction-related tasks – from complex turnkey construction, civil engineering and tunnelling to construction logistics, structural maintenance, ground engineering and timber and steel construction. Supported by the expertise of its Zentrale Technik competence centre, ZÜBLIN also offers integrated design-and-build services from a single source. We take an end-to-end view of buildings over their entire life cycle, with a focus on collaborative construction using our TEAMCONCEPT® partnering model while constantly promoting and advancing the topics of digitalisation, sustainability and innovation. Together within the STRABAG Group and with our external partners, we are working systematically to make the design-and-build processes resource-friendly and climate-neutral. More information is available at www.zueblin.de.