Construction and real estate companies are always looking for new technologies. Sometimes this is spectacularly successful. In ancient times, the lever and pulley made large scale vertical construction far simpler than ramps and brute force.   A more modern example is the use of computer drafting software to create real buildings in a virtual world. That technology has now advanced to building completely integrated structures completely within a digital environment in 3 dimensions. There are countless other examples. All of these emerging technologies have proven their worth ultimately by shifting the way we think about how buildings can be built.  3D Printing will reinvent construction.

3D printing is a technology that is quickly gaining inroads. And for good reason.  Once fully integrated into the work stream (and I think that’s a question of when, not if) a construction site will be more like an on-location manufacturing and assembly plant than a final destination delivery address. The supply chain will collapse and concentrate. That’s not to say the supply chain will fail. Raw materials will still be sourced and some assembly will be required. But the number of segments comprising the chain are reduced which saves money and time. This pushes speed-to market ideals even more to the forefront. 
There are a few reasons why it may take some time to get 3D printing fully up to speed and really reaching it’s potential:

TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS

The hardware is what limits 3D printing. They work with large gantry-mounted nozzles.  This is necessary due to the large amount of automation required to lay down accurate and consistent layers.  Ultimately this process will have to catch up to architecture.  Nobody wants to build cookie cutter structures over and over.  Variation in space-making is critical for many building types including housing, retail, office, entertainment, lodging, restaurants, etc.  Of course there are many examples of building types that can benefit rather soon from 3D printing.  Warehouses and data centers lend themselves quite well to 3D printing processes.

SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCIES

Here is a simplified construction supply chain:  Raw Materials – Manufacturer – Distributer – Sub-Contractor – General Contractor – End User. This chain is designed to get raw materials out of the ground and into a functioning and working product.  Once printing evolves, the technology will take raw materials directly to the sub-contractor or general contractor phase without all the middle men.

ALIGNMENT OF MATERIAL AND APPLICATIONS

Right now the best material for 3D construction is a cementious product that performs quite well for a few reasons.  It’s durable when hardened.  It is workable during installation suiting the additive process.  However this cementious material lacks innate warmth and visual appeal, characteristics that are important for many building types. Development of new materials will fill the different types of environments we humans crave in our buildings.  

Again, 3D Printing will reinvent construction. Companies are starting to crop up all over the globe that specialize in this exciting opportunity but the hurdles remain large. The good news is that none of these are impossible to get over.  The companies that give thought to this technology now are are investing in the chance to be among the leaders in a brave new world that turns job sites into manufacturing plants.