Harcourt Technologies (HTL), a construction company utilizing 3D concrete printing, is pioneering Ireland’s first 3D printed homes. Employing a gantry-mounted 3D concrete printer from COBOD, HTL is building three social housing units at Grange Close in Dundalk.
“It’s like building a concrete block wall, but the machine lays 50mm layers instead of manual placement,” explained Justin Kinsella, Managing Director and Co-founder of HTL. “As architects and engineers, we design the building digitally, and the model guides the printer to extrude the material layer by layer.” This technology speeds up construction, reduces labor requirements, and is expected to complete the homes three times faster than traditional methods, with a target completion date of October.
Currently, the printer takes about 18 minutes to lay a 50mm layer of concrete around the three-unit block, with aspirations to reduce this to 12 minutes in the coming week. “Labor is reduced by about a third, and construction speed is tripled compared to manual methods,” Kinsella noted. “The real cost benefit lies in the speed of delivery. Costs can drop significantly if construction time is reduced by 25-30%.” While the method is cost-comparable to traditional construction, it offers significant time savings.
Training for this technology is already underway. The Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) has acquired its own 3D concrete printer and collaborates with HTL for training at their Drogheda R&D facility. Over 100 people have completed the program. “The technology isn’t autonomous; trained personnel are essential. The machines need human support, making LMETB’s role critical,” added Kinsella.
Once completed, the three-bedroom units will provide homes for three families on Louth County Council’s social housing list. “Louth always aims to be at the forefront, and here we are again with Ireland’s first 3D concrete printed houses,” said Joan Martin, CEO of Louth County Council. She noted that other county councils have shown interest in this project, sending representatives to observe the process on-site. “It’s only by seeing it in action that you fully understand it. This is something entirely new.”
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