14Trees, Holcim and the CDC Group’s joint construction 3D printing venture, has gained the backing of Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund.
Using funding provided as part of Amazon’s $2 billion green technology investment scheme, the company plans to scale the deployment of its proprietary ‘IROKO’ 3D printing system.
Launched in 2023, 14 Trees’ technology revolves around a giant gantry-style 3D printer that builds concrete structures layer-by-layer, with high affordability, reliability, and mobility.
In the past, it has been used exclusively to build schools and housing in Africa, but now the firm aims to bring low-carbon data centers and other utility buildings to the US and Europe.
Excitingly, Amazon isn’t just providing funding, it’s set to play an active role, working with Holcim and 14Trees to oversee project deployment and explore its technology’s potential.
“We are delighted to invest in 14Trees, a tech-enabled business scaling an innovative technology from Africa to the world,” said Phoebe Wang, an Investment Partner at Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund. “14Trees will collaborate with Amazon in advancing our strategic objective to deploy new sustainable materials and methods for low-carbon building.”
According to Francois Perrot, 14Trees’ Managing Director, Amazon’s investment “marks a key milestone.” In fact, the firm now anticipates becoming a global leader in construction 3D printing – a technology it says will grow due to its performance and profitability benefits.
