China’s first 3D-printed footbridge opens in Shanghai
- Developer says 15-metre span is an example of the many possibilities of the new technology
- Sturdy design means bridge is strong enough to support four adults per square metre, engineer says
A “smart city” in Shanghai has unveiled its latest hi-tech attraction: a 15-metre (50-foot) long 3D-printed footbridge that is the first of its kind in the country.
The span, which opened for business on Friday, was created by Shanghai Machinery Construction Group using materials made by Polymaker, the state-run China News Service reported.
“It’s both an everyday, practical application and an interactive one that involves people touching and even relying upon … a 3D printed thing,” Polymaker said on its website.
“Many people have never touched a 3D printed object and they still think of it as part fantasy and part future tech, so projects like this do a lot of good in terms of exposing the public to the reality and the possibilities of 3D printing,” it said.
The footbridge, which engineers said should last about 30 years, was installed over a narrow creek at the Taopu Smart City complex in Shanghai’s Putuo district, the news report said.
On its website the Shanghai government described the new bridge as an “innovative way to promote 3D printing technology and popularise it in urban construction”.