Dive Brief:
- Building on its portfolio of 3D-printed projects, retail giant Walmart, alongside other commercial retailers, will work with 3D-printing firm Alquist to deliver more than a dozen construction projects across the U.S., according to a Nov. 24 announcement.
- The jobs, which vary in size, scope and regional application, represent a turning point for the construction industry as 3D concrete printing moves beyond one-off pilots and into full-scale commercialization, Alquist said in the news release.
- To meet demand, Greeley, Colorado-based Alquist will partner with construction and equipment rental dealer Hugg & Hall and full-service general contractor FMGI. Under the model, FMGI owns and will lease Alquist A1X printers, financed and serviced by Hugg & Hall, to execute large-scale 3D-printed projects nationwide, according to the news release.
Dive Insight:
The partnership will apply Alquist's robotic 3D printing systems to deliver structural walls and infrastructure elements, according to the news release. Alquist claims the tech will deliver projects more efficiently and sustainably than traditional construction methods.
The first project under this model will begin at Walmart’s Lamar, Missouri, location in December, according to the news release.
The job marks Alquist's third Walmart project. Previously, the 3D-printing company created a nearly 8,000-square-foot, 20-foot-high expansion of Walmart’s Athens, Tennessee, store in September 2024. It also debuted another expansion for the retailer in Huntsville, Alabama, according to local outlet FOX 54.
"What drew us to Alquist was how practical this technology really is, it's faster to mobilize, cleaner on-site and delivers consistent quality in every print,” said Darin Ross, president and CEO of Woodstock, Georgia-based FMGI, in the news release. “For us, this partnership is about transforming how large-scale projects actually get done."
With the technology, FMGI claims it can have AI-trained robots operating 24/7, according to the company’s website, supported by a team of five human operators.
