3D Printing Transforms Remote Japanese Stations

Japan is networked via around 27,700 kilometers of railway, with some remote lines traversed by but several trains daily. Stations on some of these remote lines are typically unmanned, of wooden construction and costly to maintain relative to line revenue.

Step in Japanese company Serendix, a developer and marketer of 3D-printed houses using reinforced concrete. The company is tying up with rail operator West Japan Railway Company and its subsidiary JR West Japan Innovations to trial trial the reconstruction of aging wooden station building and other structures using 3D printers. This is the world's first instance of station building construction using 3D printing technology.

First on the agenda was renovation of Hatsushima Station on the Kisei Line in Arida City, Wakayama Prefecture. The external shape of the 10-square-meter building, including its foundations, were pre-fabricated using the latest robotic 3D mortar printing technology and assembly was carried out onsite. Assembly time was approximately six hours.

Image: West Japan Railway Company

Being made of reinforced concrete, it is superior in durability and corrosion resistance. In addition, compared to the conventional precast construction method, the use of formwork is eliminated, allowing for a greater degree of freedom of form and design. The exterior design reflects the unique characteristics of the area and will contribute to coexistence with the local community.