Concept: Israeli startup Largix has launched an automated, and robotic 3D design and production platform for industrial manufacturing of large, custom-made end products. It is powered by an autonomous deposition technology called ‘Cold 3D Printing.’ Using ordinary to recycled polymers as input, the 3D printer can create big industrial storage tanks and other products.

Nature of Disruption: Largix’s Cold 3D Printing technology combines modern robotics with 3D printing technologies, allowing manufacturers to create custom-made materials on-demand in a rapid, cost-effective, and completely automated process. It includes a robotic frame that allows for large-scale printing, a polymer feeding system, and a production printing head. The system claims to be capable of creating structures up to 350 cm × 300 cm in size and deposits materials using a series of nozzles installed on a moving robotic arm. It makes use of sensor data as well as ML to verify that the materials created to meet industry standards for bonding and welding strength. The machine can also print polypropylene and polyethylene, which are polymers that other large-format printers have difficulties with while working. It is particularly well-suited to the demands of manufacturers stuck in semi-automatic or manual workflows.

Outlook: Traditional polymer 3D printing is generally limited to models and prototypes, as the bonding strength between layers is insufficient to meet demanding industrial quality standards. Largix’s hybrid robotic platform, which incorporates smart sensors, real-time data, and ML, intends to eliminate reliance on manual labor while also speeding up production. Cold 3D Printing enables manufacturers who are currently using semi-automated or manual procedures to minimize manufacturing costs while increasing output and productivity. Largix has a significant impact in a variety of industries, including construction, aerospace, and automotive. The CGK Group, a Belgian chemical processing company, plans to 3D print an entire 13-foot storage container using the Largix 3D printing technology. It plans to use the platform to build the storage tank eliminating traditional manual techniques, and it expects to be able to do it in a continuous cycle, effectively reducing the total cost.

This article was originally published in Verdict.co.uk