Kolkata gets its first 3D-printed office

Deep tech startup Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions has constructed Kolkata’s first 3D-printed structure. It is located at the nationalised shipyard — Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited. The 3D printed site office project is built as a technology demonstrator and will be utilised by GRSE for monitoring Anti-submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWCs).  

The modular site office was designed and executed in 10 days. The structure modules were printed in less than three days at Tvasta’s Chennai factory and then transported to the site location where they were assembled. Giridhar Aramane, IAS, defence secretary, Government of India, inaugurated the structure on December 31, 2022. The size of the structure is 180 sq ft and can house up to eight workers. This is the first project in a series of potential large-scale construction projects using 3D printing for GRSE. A Mini Ratna Category 1 company GRSE has delivered 108 warships to India and other countries. 

“This project depicts the necessity and capability of advanced construction technology in the infrastructure development of the country across various sectors. The execution strategy for the current project incorporated an optimal use of durable materials to ensure robustness and sustainability, thereby generating less wastage and a lower carbon footprint. Tvasta is currently focusing on modular construction such as this structure which will be a useful solution for quick infrastructure and ‘assemblable buildings,” Adithya VS, co-founder and chief executive officer of Tvasta Manufacturing, said. 

Tvasta was founded by IIT Madras alumni in 2016 with a focus on leveraging automation and robotics in 3D printing platforms in the construction industry. Constructing 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process where the material is added layer by layer to build a structure.  

Based in Chennai and Bangalore, Tvasta also built India’s first 3D-printed house at the IIT Madras campus. The startup wants to highlight a potential alternative solution to address India’s housing and infrastructure challenges. The company has also built ‘Ananta Siras’ for the 75th anniversary of India Cements Ltd. in Chennai last year. The company claims that this is India’s first 3D-printed monument.