Photo: Agnes Petit, founder and CEO of MOBBOT.

Fribourg start-up MOBBOT (‘mobile robot’) has developed a unique 3D printing system that can produce all types of concrete components, as founder and CEO of MOBBOT Agnes Petit enthusiastically explains, “Our patented solution is the only one of its kind in the world. One of its many advantages is speed. It normally takes two to three days to produce a custom part but at MOBBOT we can have it ready in one hour.” The MOBBOT 3D printing solution also performs much better than precast systems because it sprays the concrete mix one layer at a time. That’s not all: MOBBOT uses locally sourced, standard concrete which helps keep the carbon footprint to a minimum.

The extensive technological expertise Agnes Petit has acquired during her 13-year career in the construction industry means that her company is built on firm foundations. At the same time, the businesswoman tapped into the R&D prowess of the Fribourg School of Architecture and Engineering to fine-tune and optimize her technology, “The Institute of Construction and Environmental Technology (iTEC) lets us use its laboratory.” Petit is delighted that the canton of Fribourg was on hand to help bring her project to fruition. “Infrastructure is a major global market, and given that every building project comes with its own set of particular needs, our high-speed 3D printing system represents an attractive proposition.”