TVASTA Manufacturing: Innovative solutions for construction

Tvasta’s C3DP is an automated manufacturing method for producing three-dimensional, real-life structures. It develops 3D printers and formulates composition for the print material and the software that ‘talks’ to printer

Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions is a deep-technology start-up in Bharat focusing on 3D printing and related manufacturing solutions. Founded in 2016 by three alumni from IIT Madras, the startup’s interests lie in the development and leveraging of Construction of 3D Printing’ (C3DP) Technology Platforms with the vision of enabling automation in the construction industry.

With the goal of making construction (and end structures) efficient, reliable, quick and sustainable, Tvasta provides end-to-end solutions that include the 3D printer, raw material, design and process strategy. Further, through a modular technology that is built for adaptation to scale, Tvasta strongly believes in creating impact and pushing the technology’s boundaries catering to innovative solutions for construction.

As Bharat’s first ‘Construction 3D Printing’ start-up and having successfully delivered several noteworthy constructions across the country, Tvasta is fast emerging as one of the few players (across the globe), in possession of a end-to-end, ready-to-implement technology stack capable of steering the Construction towards new horizons.

Laudable Works

• Bharat’s first 3D Printed House in 2020 at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (Chennai)
• First ever 3D Printed Dwelling Space in Bharat and the first technology-led construction project in India signifying a successful collaboration between industry (Tvasta), academia (Indian Institute of Technology, Madras) and NGO (Habitat for Humanity)
• Total Built Area of 600 sq.ft. was built in an effective time of 21 days (during intensive COVID-19 period)
• The structure was inaugurated in April, 2021 by Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman
• In June, 2021, the then Vice President of Bharat, Shri Venkaiah Naidu visited the 3D Printed House
• Built Bharat’s first 3D Printed Doffing Unit in 2020 – A COVID-19 Response Initiative in collaboration with Saint Gobain for the Government Hospital (Kanchipuram)
• Bharat’s first 3D Printed Doffing Unit for safe removal and disposal of PPE Kits donned by healthcare providers and frontline workers
• Erected Bharat’s first 3D Printed Airmen Quarters in 2021 at the South-Western Air Command (SWAC) – Indian Air Force, Gandhinagar – constructed for housing the families of the Airforce Personnel

First Disaster Resilient Structures (Zone-3 Earthquake Specifications Compliant) in Bharat erected using Tvasta’s Construction 3D Printing 4. Bharat’s first 3D Printed Bus-Shelters (2021) at Vikhroli, Godrej Campus
Notable Accolades

• The start-up was one among eight selected to present their technology to Prime Minister at the Global
  Housing Technology Challenge launched in 2019
• Tvasta is part of the incubation centre that was jointly opened by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and IIT Madras under the ASHA Scheme of the Global Housing Technology Challenge. This event was presided over and inaugurated by Prime Minister of Bharat, Shri Narendra Modi on January 1, 2021
• As of 2021, Tvasta was also the recipient of the National Startup Award 2021 (in the Industry 4.0 – 3D Printing Category) awarded by DPIIT, Government of India.)

What Is Construction 3D Printing C3DP?

How Can Tvasta’s ‘Construction 3D printing’ be Beneficial to Bharat and Common Man?

In Bharat, there has always existed an evergreen need to infrastructurally support the increasing population and rampant urbanisation. With ‘Acceleration’ and ‘sustainability’ being the key mantras for driving the country’s construction industry into its future, there is a country-wide necessity to meet the ever-increasing demand for capacity, material and skill. This, in turn, has led to a shift in the focus of the construction industries to adapt efficient methods – particularly those that improve cost factors, reduce labour intensity, improvise on construction materials, energy and minimise environmental pollution caused by construction waste. These challenges are pushing the industry frontiers to embrace innovation like never before.

C3DP was developed by Tvasta to specifically address these pitfalls of the sector.

PRINTING’ IN BHARAT

With a substantial market and tremendous requirement for innovation in the construction sector, the significant potential of Construction 3D printing in India cannot be disputed. In order to tap into that potential, comprehension of the technology, including all of its benefits and drawbacks is vital. All major stakeholders of the sector – Industry, Academia, Government and Innovation hubs like startups have an important role to play in furthering technology acceptance.

A significant factor that may positively influence technology penetration at customer level is the development of an ‘Experience and Sustainability FIRST’ mindset. Due to limited exposure and pronounced influence of conventional construction methods and practices, the average Indian equates value of the building only with area enclosed. Technology and innovation has so much more to offer than just maximising space. They bring forth new and evocative dimensions to life and living such as inspiration, experience, expression, and sustainability which are great tools for carving extraordinary pathways to the future. Afterall, do we not owe it to ourselves and our children to leave the world a little better than we found it ?

It is expected that C3DP would see large-scale adoptions in 3-5 years. In 7-10 years’ time, a significant amount of construction activities in India is expected to be driven by C3DP and associated automation technologies.

FUTURE OF ‘CONSTRUCTION 3D PRINTING’ IN BHARAT

The road ahead for the technology of Construction 3D Printing looks particularly exciting considering all the reasons stated above and more. As a nascent technology, with a guarantee of all-round results, especially suited for developing countries such as India, it’s the growth trajectory is promising and headed towards maximizing benefits through further optimisations in the technology framework. Faster developments leading to major construction-time shrinkage, realisation of organic and parametric designs, possible reductions in construction cost by up to 30 per cent, utilisation of eco-friendly materials and the inevitable shift to earth-friendly/sustainable constructions, total energy optimisation pan construction processes, flexibility of technology usage for both ubiquitous and niche deployments, etc. are some of the other benefits that this technology may deliver upon progressing in the future. It is notable that, despite being a fledgling technology, Construction 3D Printing has its foundation built on adoption readiness and easy implementation. Therefore, the only question that remains is, ‘Are we ready to fully embrace 3D Printing for Construction?’