The world’s first metal 3D printed bridge was successfully installed in Amsterdam

After two years of anticipation, Dutch 3D Printing startup MX3D finally installed a metal 3D printed bridge in Amsterdam. The construction of the MX3D bridge started in 2015 and was completed in 2018, but the installation was not completed until recently. In the next few days, the company will finalize and test the sensor network. Tourists will be able to visit this 3D printed metal bridge from the second half of July.

MX3D 3D printed a fully functional stainless steel bridge across Oudezijds Achterburgwal, one of the oldest and most famous canals in the center of Amsterdam. The company equips typical industrial robots with special tools and develops software to control them. This unique method allows them to 3D print strong, complex and beautiful structures from metal. The goal of the MX3D Bridge project is to demonstrate the potential applications of our multi-axis 3D printing technology.

In three years, the Dutch team behind the project worked with a long list of partners. The bridge was designed by Joris Laarman Lab, Arup was the chief structural engineer, ArcelorMittal provided metallurgical expertise, and Autodesk assisted them in digital production tools. Heijmans contributed as a construction expert, Lenovo supported the project with computing hardware, ABB was a robotics expert, Air Liquide and Oerlikon provided welding knowledge, and finally, Plymovent protected the air breathed by MX3D employees, and AMS and Delft University of Technology provides valuable research.