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A group of team members from Criterium Engineers recently toured the Advanced Structures & Composites Center (ASCC), at The University of Maine, gaining insights into the future of structural and materials engineering. The ASCC is a leading research and educational center focused on advanced manufacturing, materials sciences, composites, and structural engineering. It is the largest university-based research center in Maine, dedicated to sustainability, green energy, and materials development.
During the tour, the team visited several departments within the facility, which includes 13 integrated laboratories. The tour began with a look at ASCC’s G-Beams: lightweight composite tub-girders used in the construction of roadway bridge spans. These U-shaped beams are corrosion-resistant, require no maintenance, have a service life exceeding 100 years, and can be transported and installed at job sites more cost-effectively than conventional materials like concrete or steel.
The tour continued with demonstrations of innovations in several areas. Highlights included polymer-based rebar, Cross Laminated Timber and Mass Timber Construction using wood from Maine’s forests, 3D printed bio-based flooring for multi-family housing, and new materials for offshore wind energy platforms. The team also saw 3Dirigo, the record-setting 25-foot 3D thermoplastics printed boat manufactured in 2019, and Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF 1.0), the world’s largest polymer 3D printer.
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The tour ended with BioHome3D, the world’s first 3D-printed house made entirely of bio-based, recyclable materials. Printed with Factory of the Future 1.0 using locally-sourced wood fiber and bio-resin materials, the single-family home features a 600 square ft floor plan, an open entertaining and kitchen space, a primary bedroom, and a modern bathroom, all with conventionally manufactured furnishings.
The ASCC collaborated with the Maine State Housing Authority to develop BioHome3D as a scalable housing solution addressing labor shortages, supply chain issues, and sustainability. Given the nationwide housing shortage, such innovative solutions are poised to improve construction times and significantly impact affordability and accessibility.
In addition to printing entire houses and boats, 3D printing can produce custom structural and mechanical components more efficiently and cost-effectively, which allows for faster innovation in design. Today, a diverse range of materials, machinery, and methods are used to make structural products, and while this technology is still relatively new, you may see your next project supplied in part with 3D printing.
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Criterium Engineers is committed to staying at the forefront of new trends and technologies in engineering. This commitment is demonstrated through continuous professional development, industry conferences, networking, collaboration within our national network of Professional Engineers, and hands-on educational opportunities like the tour at the University of Maine. As new technologies such as 3D-printed buildings, composite bridge beams, and bio-materials become integrated into real-world applications, our evolving technical expertise ensures that your projects meet the highest standards of quality and safety.