Future Links CW 7 – Green Printing Edition
This week, we could not talk about green and sustainable news from the printing industry without mentioning the world’s first 3D-printed bridge and its optimized use of raw materials, a special nanoparticle coating allowing to print on paper with light, a 3D-printed expansion turbine able to convert natural gas into electrical power, Siegwerk’s first-ever sustainability report and a new investigation into the direct 3D printing of PLA on fabrics.
World’s First 3D-Printed Bridge Optimizes the Distribution of Raw Materials
For the world’s first 3D-printed pedestrian bridge, the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia relied on a computational design tool enabling them to dispose the material only where it is needed. With this, the project’s contributors were able to optimize the distribution of raw material making the bridge, situated in Madrid, and set a milestone for the construction sector at international level.
More at Inhabitat
Chinese and US Researchers Print on Paper with Light
Thanks to a special nanoparticle coating developed by scientist from the US and China normal paper is now able to change color when ultraviolet light shines on it. This process is even reversible by heating the coating to 120 degrees, which allows users to rewrite on the paper up to 80 times. Since the high-resolution light printing technique needs no additional ink it is very cheap and environmentally-friendly.
More at Science Alert
3D-Printed Expansion Turbine Pushes Sustainable Energy in Russia
Aiming to further modernize Russia’s already well-developed gas transport system infrastructure, researchers from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have developed an expansion turbine for electric generators. The turbine, partly made by a 3D printer, is able to convert part of its emitted energy, which would otherwise have been wasted, into usable electrical power.
More at 3ders.org
Siegwerk’s First-Ever Sustainability Report
In order to provide greater transparency and setting new evaluation standards for its sustainable actions, Siegwerk has published its first-ever sustainability report. Therefore, the printing ink manufacturer follows the international GRI standard. Previously, the company used brochures to inform about its sustainable actions.
More at Ink World Magazine
Investigation into the Direct 3D Printing of PLA on Fabrics
Recently, the European Commission’s Erasmus Mundus Programme has announced to fund a research on the advantages of 3D printing for the textile industry lead by the Swedish University of Borås, French universities GEMTEX and Université Lille Nord, and the Chinese College of Textile and Clothing Engineering. One of the report’s findings is that 3D printing might save water, energy, and chemicals compared to common other fabric printing methods.
More at 3D Printing Industry
