Dec 28, 2017 | By David
In the town of Fengjing in the Jinshan District, Shanghai, China recently cemented its reputation as one of the leading global 3D printing innovators with the opening of the world’s first 3D printed bus station. The groundbreaking structure seamlessly integrates science, technology and nature, and it has been put into use for the Fengjing Line 4 bus service.
The 3D printing technology for the bus stop was provided by WinSun Construction Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., an additive manufacturing pioneer located in Jinshanyuan, Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone. Most of our readers will be familiar with WinSun, as the Chinese 3D printing construction company has claimed many headlines for its various 3D printed structures, including a 3D printed villa, traditional Chinese courtyards, public toilets, and more.
The 3D printed bus station was first printed in the factory in the park with 3D printing equipment and ink, then was transported to its location and installed there, ready for use. The first 3D printed bus stop is located on a country road in Fengjing. It has a unique closed-loop design that looks like a rectangular frame. On the surface of the structure, a trail of the original ink marks still remains, allowing attentive observers to see how the bus stop was extruded out of 3D printer's ink nozzles layer by layer.
These gray colored materials are from some of the high-end luxury brands, used for a natural performance, and these gray raw materials are taken from environmentally friendly recycled materials which come from the recycling of natural construction demolitions. They were chosen in order to naturally blend into the style of ancient town of Fengjing. The bus stop users mostly come from surrounding villages and towns. Some of them stood inside the box and some sat on a round stool, checking through the side of the box to check the coming of the bus. Passengers were surprised as there was no bus shelter here before, only a bus stop sign. Many of them passed by the stop every day and, having not witnessed the off-site construction process, were amazed when all of a sudden a bus shelter appeared ready to protect public transport users from the elements.
The fact is that 3D printing technology in construction is now at a level at which a bus station like this can spring up overnight, in Fengjing or anywhere else. This particular 3D printed bus station will be used as a bus line pilot scheme, in order to demonstrate the practicality of this application for the potential 3D printing of future bus stations. In the upcoming years, we could see more functionality being incorporated into the bus shelters. They could provide a small table for children to write homework, for example, or for people with grocery shopping to place their bags while waiting for the bus.
The local Fengjing government has been actively promoting business innovation and technology to be used in the area’s infrastructure recently, so this bus shelter could just be the tip of the iceberg. Following its successful launch, they could use similar technology and design resources to build a 3D printed road. There are also plans for a 3D printed architectural technology experience park and a special ‘technology town’ made using 3D printing, amongst many other projects.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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What a beautiful shelter. Lokks like after a bomb attack.
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