The full span of a stainless steel 3D printed bridge to cross one of Amsterdam’s oldest and most famous canals has been completed
MX3D has equipped four industrial robots with purpose-built tools and developed the software to print the 12.5m long, 6.3m wide bridge over a period of six months.
The goal of the project is to showcase the potential applications of multi-axis 3D printing technology.
Load testing will now take place to check the structural integrity of the bridge.
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Project team: MX3D, Joris Laarman Lab, Arup, ArcelorMittal, Autodesk, Heijmans, Lenovo, ABB Robotics, Air Liquide & Oerlikon, and TMS and TU Delft.
Completion: 2019
This 3D-printed stainless steel bridge in Amsterdam is a stunning example of how advanced manufacturing and robotics are reshaping infrastructure! The fact that industrial robots were used to print a fully functional, 12.5-meter-long bridge in just six months highlights the incredible potential of multi-axis 3D printing for future construction projects.
It’s fascinating to think about the parallels between this innovation and other critical infrastructure—like computer & network cables (data cables) https://serverorbit.com/cables/data-cable that form the “bridges” of digital communication. Just as this steel bridge physically connects two sides of a canal, high-quality Ethernet, fiber optic, or coaxial cables ensure seamless data transfer across networks. Both rely on precision engineering, durability testing, and cutting-edge materials to perform under load—whether it’s foot traffic on a bridge or high-bandwidth data transmission.
Looking forward to seeing how this technology evolves and inspires more projects at the intersection of robotics, construction, and smart infrastructure. Could we someday see 3D-printed cable conduits or even integrated smart bridges with embedded data networks? The possibilities are exciting!