ETESIAS s.r.l. is a start-up company founded in 2019 operating in the construction sector, with the purpose of industrialising an innovative technology already protected by one patent held by the company itself. The technical solution owned by ETESIAS is an innovative approach to the fabrication of reinforced concrete (RC) members based on 3D printing technology of concrete.
The entrepreneurial idea was born from a set of preliminary activities carried out at the University of Naples Federico II, focusing on the fabrication of prototypal RC members based on 3D printing technology.
The most significant prototype realised adopting the ETESIAS technology is represented by a 4m long beam, whose upper profile reproduces the iconic representation of Vesuvius, the famous volcano of Naples. The mechanical performances of this element are comparable to those obtained through the classical concrete casting technology, but the amount of concrete is reduced of 50%. The beam is made of 3D printed concrete segments assembled taking advantage of steel rebar reinforcements installed externally to the beam.
The manufacturing process developed by ETESIAS (design-to-process) is one of a kind as no other structural object has been realised through this technology so far.
The preliminary R&D activities have been supported by MATERIAS s.r.l., a young start-up investing in material based new ventures and supporting researchers to enhance research activities, through the protection of intellectual property, providing funds for the industrialization and market entry of innovative products and services. MATERIAS recognised the value of the innovative solution and has supported its patenting process also promoting the constitution of ETESIAS.
The ETESIAS innovation is already protected by an Italian patent and the process for the PCT national phase entry in Canada, USA and Europe is ongoing.
The ETESIAS approach is expected to facilitate the production of curved elements with variable cross-section, with respect to the common concrete casting process, and to reduce drastically the amount of concrete needed for the fabrication of RC elements as it allows the beam to be partially hollow while still guaranteeing adequate mechanical performances. This represents an enormous advantage in terms of economic and environmental impacts.
