3D-Printed steel bridge opened

On 15 July, Her Majesty Queen Máxima opened the world’s first 3D-printed steel bridge in Amsterdam. The bridge was manufactured by the Amsterdam scale-up MX3D and is placed on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam. The bridge is a prize-winning design by Joris Laarman Lab and the result of a collaboration between, among others, MX3D, software company Autodesk, chief engineer Arup, steel concern ArcelorMittal, the Municipality of Amsterdam and the University of Twente. Over the next two years, this pedestrian bridge will replace the old bridge that will be externally restored.
futuristic design is 12.2 metres long, 6.3 metres wide and weighs 6,000 kilos. MX3D made this design possible, with Arup as chief engineer, by turning welding robots with intelligent software into industrial 3D printers. Layer by layer, they created the organic shapes. The bridge, which remains the property of MX3D, was extensively tested by Imperial College London, with the help of the University of Twente, before being installed.
To ensure the safe construction of the bridge, Imperial College London conducted research into its strength and structure.

Photo: Olivier de Gruijter

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