Luyten sells giant 3D printer to construction startup

Melbourne-based Luyten 3D, which makes large-scale concrete printers for the construction industry, has announced the sale this week of a Platypus X4 Special Edition machine to startup 3VIMA.

According to its website, the machine sold is able to “construct large-scale projects with complex geometries” up to four metres high, eight metres wide, and 16 metres long, and “is capable of printing entire homes or structures in a single print”.

Luyten designs and manufactures its own 3D printers, associated machinery, and a proprietary concrete mix named Ultimatecrete, which it says produces fast-drying, high-strength concrete.

The new customer said in a statement that its project pipeline included “a cottage style resort in the Blue Mountains” west of Sydney.

“Through our extensive tests and ongoing field projects, we are assured of LUTYEN ’s high quality standards and equipment reliability, which has never failed us even once,” said 3VIMA CEO and founder Jai Ranganathan. 

“We searched across the world for the best technology in the 3D printing space only to find it right here in Melbourne.

“We feel fortunate to find an Australian product with world class standards and industry leading capabilities.

“I save on overseas transport costs, and the best thing is I will have ongoing service from Ahmed and his team.”

Luyten co-founder and CEO Ahmed Mahil added: “Using our state of the art 3D printer and technology, combined with our award winning Ultimatecrete Strength concrete mix, 3VIMA is positioning itself as the leader of hybrid building practices in Australia.”

Luyten was formed in 2020 by four Monash University engineering teachers, and announced construction of what was reportedly the first additively manufactured house in the Southern Hemisphere early the following year. 

It said that the sale to 3VIMA this week follows recent machine sales to the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

Picture: credit Luyten/Linkedin

Further reading

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