We had a bit of a later start today, leaving for our company visit at noon. First, we took the tram to Amsterdam’s Red Light District to see the first ever 3D-printed stainless steel bridge, installed by the company MX3D. The bridge was definitely interesting to see, the design and texture of the sides of the bridge were unique but the overall bridge itself had a similar style to the other bridges around the city. After visiting the bridge, we then got on the train and made our way to Amsterdam West, where the MX3D company is located. Here, we saw a presentation given by the junior business developer of the company which gave us an overview of what the MX3D company does. He also explained many of the company’s past and current projects, which included the 3D-printed bridge. 

When the company was first starting out in 2006, they started by creating pieces that were more for artistic purposes and decoration rather than having a physical function. Later on, this began to change. MX3D’s printing system is called MetalXL and it’s the first dedicated Robotic Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) workflow, which enables 3D-printing on a large scale. The software was launched in 2019 and this company has been utilizing it ever since. This software has helped to make 3D-printing more sustainable, more efficient, and more affordable. 3D-printing connects to sustainability by providing an efficient way to create structures using less materials. It also results in less waste and less overall energy usage. This company in particular has an interesting business system since they don’t usually design the products that they are printing, they print the designs that other companies send to them. The 3D-printed bridge is a symbol of this advanced development that MX3D is introducing to the world of construction. It includes sensors in the bridge to monitor corrosion, environmental changes, and more in order to collect data that can be used in future creations. Overall, this was a very interesting visit and I look forward to keeping track of MX3D’s future product creations!