ICON announced today the commercial availability of Titan, their latest and greatest 3DCP system.
For several years, ICON has relied on their Vulcan system, which was able to print large concrete structures on multiple projects — evidently 245 in total — ranging from residential to experimental efforts with NASA. Now they’re stepping into the future with the new Titan system.
Titan is a good name for this system because it is able to print large structures. In fact, it is specifically designed to build two-storey structures, something that many 3DCP systems cannot do.
While we don’t yet have the specifications for Titan, you can plainly see that it is very large and designed for a long reach with its enormous robotic arm.
At the end of that arm, there is a deposition head that is able to print with their proprietary material, CarbonX. This material requires lower amounts of carbon to produce and apparently is the “lowest carbon residential building system ready to be used at scale”, according to ICON. This is actually quite important because the production of concrete/cement is a major contributor to global CO2 levels due to burning fossil fuels to create the necessary heat.
As big as the Titan is, it seems to be shipped in a standard shipping container, as shown in this graphic. This makes it far easier to move the machine to build sites.
You will also require a “mixer” that prepares the CarbonX material for delivery through the Titan. That all combines with ICON’s software and training, leading to a complete package for buyers.
ICON CEO Jason Ballard explained:
“In the future, I believe nearly all construction will be done by robots, and nearly all construction-related information will be processed and managed by AI systems. It is clear to me that this is the way to cut the cost and time of construction in half while making homes that more faithfully express the quality, values, and hopes of the people who live in them. We are going to deliver the same velocity of ambitious technological breakthroughs that we’ve experienced in these past few years, and we know where we are headed. It’s only going to get better from here.”
That’s quite a vision.
ICON said they are taking US$5,000 deposits for Titan systems now and expect to launch training later this year. They expect the first systems to be delivered to customers in early 2027.
Via ICON
