DR Horton, the largest housebuilder by volume in the United States, has made a strategic investment in 3D printing construction specialist Apis Cor.
The two companies plan to work together on a multi-unit construction project in South Florida after the finalisation of a new 3D printed wall system, which Apis Cor estimates will result in a significant increase in productivity. As part of the relationship, DR Horton will provide advisory support.
Apis Cor was founded in 2016 to provide 3D printing construction technology and advanced robotic solutions to help fill labour shortages, increase productivity and increase housing supply.
According to analysis of data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey by Associated Builders & Contractors, more than 400,000 construction industry positions were unfilled in 2023. Current workers are also retiring in record numbers, making skilled labour hard to find and expensive.
Anna Cheniuntai, CEO and co-founder of Apis Cor, said: “Access to DR Horton’s extensive expertise and infrastructure can boost the adoption and scalability of our breakthrough technology in the market and help us make our technology available for every homebuilder in the country sooner.”
Brad Conlon, DR Horton’s SVP of business development, said: “As a strategic investor, we are always interested in highly innovative companies. We’ve seen many technologies in the space and are very impressed with what Apis Cor has achieved and demonstrated so far with their mobile, proprietary printer ‘Frank’. We look forward to what we can achieve together to expedite the commercialisation of this promising technology.”
Apris Cor currently holds the Guinness Book World Record for the Largest 3D-Printed Building on Earth and was awarded top honours in NASA’s 3D Printed Habitat Challenge, a competition to create sustainable shelters suitable for the Moon, Mars or beyond.
