1st facility in Oman using 3D printing technology established

Muscat, The Gulf Observer: A commercial unit using 3D printing technology for the 1st time in the Sultanate of Oman has been established in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.

This technology aims to save time through the speed of construction, and the facility does not need concrete columns during the construction of the structure. The 3D printing technology is based on converting the cement material of this technology into an integrated structure using an automatic printer.

Engineer Ahmed bin Ali Akaak, the CEO in charge of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, said: The use of the commercial unit with its accessories established with 3D printing technology is the first in the Sultanate of Oman. He added that the economic zone supports this trend to generalize the experience in many other facilities and sectors.

For his part, Eng. Saif bin Nasser Al Busaidi, Director of the Projects Department at the Oman Special Economic Zone Development Company in Duqm “Duqm Development Company” confirmed that the construction works of the commercial unit using 3D printing technology with its attachments were completed on an area of 101 square meters, and a residential unit is being prepared. Another building with its annexes of 72 square meters in the fishermen’s village is within the scope of the project’s work, adding that the construction process took a record time, which is a milestone in the world of construction compared to the construction period using the traditional construction method, in addition to the standard construction speed that characterizes this technology.

Al Busaidi pointed out that engineers from the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones designed the building to comply with the technology used, and a team of Omani youth from the German University of Technology implemented the project using 3D printing techniques. The German University of Technology, in cooperation with the global Cobod Company – the two technology providers – announced the realization of this project in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm at a much lower cost by having all the necessary materials locally.

It is noteworthy that the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones approved earlier last year the use of construction technology and 3D printing in construction and development, which comes as part of the Authority’s efforts to support innovation, research and development in the fields of construction using modern technologies and 3D printing, and encourage localizing modern technologies in construction and accelerating the pace of construction in its affiliated areas.