COBOD International, in partnership with Technische Universität Braunschweig, has launched the world’s first multifunctional construction robot, marking a major milestone in the future of automated and sustainable construction. The breakthrough system, based on COBOD’s renowned BOD2 3D gantry printer, integrates a newly developed vertical telescopic unit equipped with a robotic arm, enabling a wide range of construction functions beyond traditional concrete 3D printing.
The innovation, developed with the Institute for Structural Design (ITE), introduces the Shotcrete 3D Printing Process (SC3DP). This process allows automated spraying of concrete for complex structures such as tunnels, retaining walls, and swimming pools, while also integrating reinforcement capabilities. The robotic arm can further be outfitted with tools for sanding, insulation, painting, or even gripper systems to mount prefabricated blocks, transforming the printer into a true multifunctional construction robot.
Advancing Digital Fabrication and Sustainable Construction
TU Braunschweig’s Digital Construction Site (DSC) is the first to host this groundbreaking system, enabling real-world testing of digitally fabricated reinforced concrete structures. With a telescopic vertical range of 3 meters, the robotic arm can perform multiple tasks at various levels, significantly expanding design freedom and efficiency in construction.
Professor Harald Kloft, Chair for Structural Design at ITE, emphasized the system’s transformative potential: “Our partnership with COBOD is a decisive step towards the digital construction site of the future. With multifunctional 3D printing, we can achieve highly complex, material-efficient, and low-waste solutions, balancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability in construction.”
The project, titled “The Digital Construction Site – Construction Industry 4.0 as the Key to a Digital and Sustainable Construction Industry,” brings together expertise from multiple TU Braunschweig institutes to investigate how digital manufacturing technologies reshape planning, production, and execution in construction. It underscores Germany’s national commitment to digitalization and sustainability in the building sector.
From Vision to Reality
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, General Manager and Founder of COBOD International, highlighted the achievement: “For years, we have envisioned multifunctional construction robots. Today, that vision has become reality. This technology not only prints walls but automates numerous construction processes, offering speed, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and enhanced design versatility.”
Backed by leading industry shareholders such as General Electric, CEMEX, Holcim, and PERI, COBOD International continues to lead the global 3D construction printing sector. Its printers are already in use across six continents for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, from homes and public buildings to wind turbine towers and data centers.
About COBOD International
COBOD International is the global leader in 3D construction printing, delivering innovative, open-source material solutions that enable smarter, more sustainable, and versatile building methods. With offices in Copenhagen, Miami, and Kuala Lumpur, COBOD is driven by a team of over 100 experts from 25 nationalities.
About ITE at TU Braunschweig
The Institute for Structural Design (ITE) is a pioneer in digital manufacturing research, exploring co-evolutionary design and fabrication processes across materials like concrete, steel, wood, and earth-based composites. Through interdisciplinary collaborations such as the TRR 277 Additive Manufacturing in Construction (AMC), ITE is shaping the future of sustainable, material-efficient construction.
