Topoform – Robotic Printing of Large-scale Topology Optimised Composite Construction Formwork: TopoForm

Topic(s): HORIZON-EIC-2023-ACCELERATORCHALLENGES-04 - EIC Accelerator Challenge: New European
Bauhaus and Architecture, Engineering and Construction digitalisation for decarbonisation

Call for proposal: HORIZON-EIC-2023-ACCELERATOR-01

Funding Scheme: HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended Finance

Grant agreement ID: 101144426

Objective: 

Concrete is a key enabler for creating an affordable, inclusive and climate-resilient built environment. However, the use of concrete contributes a massive 8% of global GHG emissions. Topology Optimisation offers a pathway to reduce emissions now, by using up to 70% less concrete to achieve the same structural performance, while unlocking design innovation. Yet, contractors typically opt for more affordable and predictable rectangular designs that require only standard formwork (i.e. moulds) panels, resulting in a massive overuse of concrete. The challenge to adopting Topology Optimisation is 3-fold: (1) typical timber-based specialty formworks are heavy and difficult to connect to standard formwork panels, resulting in excessive and hazardous manual work to assemble/disassemble, (2) plywood tends to deform in moist conditions requiring costly onsite repair, (3) formwork may be reused 7-20 times before being incinerted or landfilled. In Europe alone, this generates +180M tons of unnecessary waste that emits +756K tons of CO2e annually.
Our TopoForm system is revolutionising global concrete construction by delivering specialty formwork at a radically lower price, much faster to assemble/disassemble on-site and upcyclable/recyclable through our proprietary take-back service. TopoForm leverages our patented technology for robotic 3D-printing of lightweight composite formwork that is 52% cheaper, 5x lighter and 30% to 60% lower embodied GHG footprint. We have validated TopoForm’s superior performance and customers’ willingness to pay with our first 2 lead-customer projects in Denmark.
Since founding in 2012, Odico A/S is an established pioneer in construction robotics. We now aim to scale up our TopoForm formwork technology that will accelerate the New European Bauhaus and EU Green Deal targets. By 2028, Odico will bring TopoForm specialty formwork to construction projects across Europe and beyond, reaching dedicated revenues of €82.5M and 80 total new employees.