98 | Iconic Construction 3D Concrete Printing a game changer for builds Nick Lane: “The majority of the material used for our 3D printer is locally sourced, a rare thing in construction materials in New Zealand.” Karen Phelps BUILDING Proudly supporting Iconic Construction Ez Nets are specialists at providing safety net solutions across residential and commercial projects throughout Waikato and Bay of Plenty. We pride ourselves on top quality service and customer satisfaction. Proudly supporting Iconic Construction garry@eznets.co.nz 021 396 387 www.eznets.co.nz R PlaceMakers (07) 838 0716 HAMILTON CITY TE KUITI (07 ) 878 8149 MORRINSVILLE (07) 889 8057 Proud to be creating stronger communities with ICONIC CONSTRUCTION • Rural and residential subdivision • Topogrophical plans • Unit titles • Subdivision civil design • Construction superivsion • Boundary redefinition • Building set out BLUE WALLACE SURVEYORS Providing surveying services since 1994 - Waikato wide. Hamilton based Iconic Construction has become the first building company to be selected as a regional partner of New Zealand’s first 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) Company, QOROX. “QOROX offers builders a completely different way of construction, no limit to your ideas, fast and effective and no need to compromise,” says Iconic Construction director Nick Lane. QOROX leases the robotic plant to Iconic Construction, along with providing support. Iconic Construction then utilises the technology to print concrete panels for its projects. It’s fast and efficient; for example printing a 3m x 3m wall takes just under an hour, says Nick. “It’s a robot arm, like you would see in a car manufacturing facility, and does what it’s programmed to. It’s also mobile. Generation one of these concrete printing robots is amazing but generation two, which we are currently looking at, has even more exciting possibilities.” Iconic Construction is working on its first project utilising the QOROX 3DCP system – a childcare centre on Forest Lake Road, Hamilton. Iconic Construction printed an entire line of walls – 15m – in under five hours. These will be delivered to site and erected. They are a finished item inside and out. Nick says that this will be the first commercial build to use 3DCP in the Southern Hemisphere. Nick cites other benefits of the QOROX 3DCP system as opposed to timber construction including 40% less CO² emissions. Concrete is resistant to water damage, performs significantly better in fires and has better acoustic and thermal properties. He says QOROX is looking at zero waste when it gets to scale by utilizing waste material back into its mix. “The majority of the material used for our 3D printer is locally sourced, a rare thing in construction materials in New Zealand.” QOROX is BRANZ approved and QOROX is currently seeking the right regional partners across New Zealand. Nick thinks it could be a game changer for the building industry. “It can shave seven weeks off the build of a standard house and the home can be weather tight in as little as two weeks from when the slab is finished. “One of these robots could print a house in a week. Importantly it gives builders the ability to control their production rather than relying on outside suppliers, which is a real advantage with the supply chain issues the industry is currently facing.” It’s no surprise that Iconic Construction is an early adopter of the technology. Nick, a builder with nearly 20 years experience, started the company in 2009. It has since built its reputation by staying at the forefront – building differently and innovatively rather than cookie cutter projects. The company undertakes residential new homes and renovations and commercial projects in Hamilton and Waikato. It also produces a small amount of spec builds and development projects under its own name. A focus on high quality has seen the company do well at the Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand House of the Year competition. Iconic Construction first entered in 2020 and took out a gold and category win for the Waikato in the Builder’s Own Home category before reaching the fourth position in the top 100 in New Zealand for the category. It entered again this year for the second time and won a regional gold and category for the Waikato in New Home $500-750,000. It also took out the Regional Supreme House of the Year under $1m for the Waikato. The 211sqm residence is clad in bagged brick and has timber shiplap features. Airflow, natural light and efficient heating are achieved with automated solar-powered skylights and a ducted fireplace while low-e glass mitigates heat loss and sun damage. Iconic Construction employs a team of around eight and Nick says its people are a key factor in the company’s success. “As a team we’re committed to achieving the best possible results for our clients, always working to best practice and the highest of industry standards. We take pride in our workmanship and the builds we complete.” In addition to the childcare centre, Iconic Construction is currently working on a townhouse development project for a local developer, has a spec home underway and a small commercial development in the planning stage on which Iconic will use QOROX 3DCP. “QOROX is extremely exciting and has massive potential and we are proud to be at the forefront of that.”
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