Walmart Uses 3D Printing for Store Expansions
Walmart is employing 3D printing technology to construct additions to its stores across the U.S., aiming to accelerate building timelines and reduce costs.
Walmart has utilized 3D printing for expansions at several of its U.S. stores over the past two years. To date, five store additions have been completed using this method in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. This marks the largest deployment of 3D-printed structures in the commercial sector within the country.
The company has partnered with Alquist, a manufacturer of 3D printers, and FMGI, a long-term Walmart contractor. Construction industry representatives, such as FMGI CEO Darin Ross, have stated that 3D printing can reduce project timelines by up to a third and lower construction costs by 15 percent compared to traditional methods.
While the technology has primarily been used for residential structures, its expansion into commercial applications could help scale the industry and demonstrate its utility for larger projects. Despite challenges related to weather conditions and a steep learning curve, exemplified by an earlier expansion in Tennessee, subsequent projects, like an addition in Alabama, were completed in just one week.
FMGI suggests that 3D printing also aids in worker recruitment, attracting younger generations interested in robotics and technology. The company is currently in final negotiations with Walmart to build a 50,000-square-foot supermarket using 3D printing technology, which would be the largest 3D-printed building globally.