Clockwork Consultancy
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3D concrete printing

We have proven the material. We need the machine.

A printed-concrete housing system, developed with our consortium and tested to the point of production readiness.

The next step is a full-scale printer — and the first demonstrator building that proves the system on a real site.

A full-scale concrete printer laying layers of a printed housing system.

Design development

The architectural design developed alongside the engineering and materials testing. Housing layouts, printed wall geometry and the BIM model were resolved together as the system matured.

Design-development render of a three-storey housing block with textured printed-concrete walls and windows.
Design-development cutaway render through a multi-storey printed-concrete housing concept showing floor plates and walls.
Design-development section render through a multi-storey printed-concrete housing concept, with structural cut lines.
Design-development axonometric render of a printed-concrete housing concept with internal walls and floor layout.

One programme, a connected value chain

The printed housing system is delivered by a consortium, with each partner owning one link from demand to integration.

  1. Client / SiteDemand

    Kent and the Lower Thames Crossing corridor

    The demand and the first demonstration site.

  2. Architect

    Dowen Farmer Architects

    Housing typologies and the printed design language.

  3. Engineer

    London Structures Lab

    Structural design and buildability of the printed system.

  4. Academia

    Northumbria University

    Materials research and independent testing.

  5. Lead / Integration

    Clockwork Consultancy

    The delivery system, the evidence chain and the route to a first site.

The ask

We are seeking investment to acquire a full-scale printer and deliver a first demonstrator building.

  • A full-scale concrete printer (approximately £1m).
  • Commissioning and the first production runs.
  • The first demonstrator building and its evidence pack.

  1. Printer — acquire and commission the full-scale machine.

  2. First site — a controlled demonstrator with a named client and warranty route.

  3. System — a repeatable, priceable delivery model that scales beyond one building.

The route to market

The first demonstrator targets the Kent and Lower Thames Crossing growth corridor, where housing demand and public land already meet.

Beyond it sit the government's modern-methods routes, the DfE construction framework, and the supply chain — the same routes the consultancy already works within.

Evidence from lab and trial

Printability, specimen testing and the printed geometry behind the system.

The printing rig laying concrete layers during a full-scale trial.
Printing trial
A printed concrete wall rising layer by layer during a trial run.
Printing trial
Illustrative diagram of printability checks covering flow, buildability and open time.
Printability checksIllustrative diagram, not a photograph.
Close-up of a freshly extruded concrete bead.
Fresh bead
Stacked printed concrete layers in a test wall.
Printed layers
The print head and nozzle of a concrete printer.
Print head
A set of printed concrete test specimens.
Specimens A
A second set of printed concrete test specimens.
Specimens B
Printed concrete wall sample panels.
Wall samples
Flexural strength test on a printed concrete specimen.
Flexural test
Double-shear bond test on a printed concrete interface.
Double-shear bond
Interlayer geometry measurement on a printed concrete sample.
Interlayer geometry

Get involved

Four ways to help the system reach its first demonstrator.

Invest or fundBack the printer and the first demonstrator.Offer a siteBring a housing site in the Kent and Thames corridor.Deliver with usContractors and delivery partners.Supply or assureMaterials, equipment and warranty routes.