LabLab is the mascot of RTU Science and Innovation Centre, and this new sculpture is much more than a mascot: it is a large-scale prototype for the Transforming Waste Into High-Performance 3D Printable Cementitious Composite project, using our developed 3D printable mix and now being tested in real outdoor conditions. A nice moment where research, industry collaboration and a bit of playfulness meet in one printed object.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped LabLab 2 come to life:
👉 Project partners: SAKRET Baltic, Kaunas University of Technology and ZAG – Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije
👉 RTU 3D lab team for developing and optimising the mixes and working on the prototype
👉Printstone Innovations SIA for assembly
👉Creative Tuesdays, Morberga Studija, DigiSplit LTD for organising and supporting the student competition
👉 Student competition mentors: Roberto Naboni, Dr. Slava Markin and Arturs Veiss
👉 Dr. Elina Mikelsone for the original idea to print LabLabs and for keeping the LabLab birthday tradition alive

Looking forward to seeing what we learn from this prototype and how it will feed back into the next generation of sustainable 3D printed structures.

IExciting times are ahead at our lab! The installation of the large-scale prototype LabLAB 2.0 has officially begun, marking a major milestone for our research and development efforts. This landmark prototype has been designed in collaboration with students—through their competition contributions—and built using the very mixtures developed within our project framework, with a substantial amount of oil-shale ash incorporated as a key material. The result is a tangible embodiment of our vision for sustainable and high-performance building materials.

The grand unveiling is scheduled to coincide with the birthday celebration of the “LabLAB” itself, which takes place in mid-December (date to be confirmed). During this event, invited guests, industry partners, and research collaborators will witness the completed prototype in all its form and function, accompanied by insights into the design process, material development, and on-site installation journey. Stay tuned for more updates as we draw closer to this milestone — we’ll be sharing sneak-peeks, behind-the-scenes shots, and the story behind how this unique large-scale prototype came to life on Instagram page of our lab.

To mark this milestone, we are excited to unveil our own major achievement—a groundbreaking 30 MPa 3D-printed concrete made entirely from cement-free binders and recycled construction waste. Remarkably, 92% of its composition consists of recycled materials, setting a new benchmark for sustainable building solutions. ♻️🏗️

Here’s to the next decades of innovation, sustainability, and progress in concrete technology! 🚀

The IMST 2025 Conference will bring together researchers, industry professionals, and experts to discuss the latest advancements in materials science, structural engineering, and construction technologies.

Building on the success of previous editions, IMST continues to provide a platform for high-quality scientific exchange, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field.

Key Highlights

• Scientific sessions featuring cutting-edge research
• Workshops and discussions on emerging topics
• Networking opportunities with industry leaders and researchers

Special Focus: 3D Printing in Construction

This year’s conference will include a dedicated session and workshop on 3D printing in construction, showcasing advancements in:
✅ Cement reduction strategies using waste materials
✅ Cement-free 3D-printable mixtures with recycled aggregates
✅ Bio-based material printing
✅ Printing with recycled polymers

🔗 More information and updates: www.imst.rtu.lv

Join us in Riga for IMST 2025 and be part of the future of innovative construction!

https://rtucloud1.zoom.us/j/91041220374?pwd=AnEajaVbibL5H3FkR6TreNoQp0mweq.1

An opportunity to participate in the 2nd 3D Concrete Design Competition, organized by TRANSITION project. The competition will take place online, and by the end of the year, participants will need to develop a technical design for the second large-scale 3D concrete sculpture, which is planned to be installed at the Riga Technical University (RTU) student campus.

The competition will be held in English, and both students and professionals interested in innovations and 3D printing technologies are invited to apply. Registration for the competition is open until October 22nd at the following link: https://ej.uz/3DCD.

Additionally, expert support and consultations will be provided throughout the competition. Participants will have the opportunity to gain knowledge about various 3D printing techniques, material properties, and design optimization. Participation is free, and the prize fund is set at 2000 EUR.

Follow competition updates on the Facebook page — 3D Concrete Competition: https://www.facebook.com/concretecompetition.

The first online workshop, titled “Making of the Most Loved 3D Concrete Sculpture,” will take place on October 22nd at 18:00. In this session, attendees will learn about this year’s competition task and the creation of RTU’s mascot and beloved astronaut — LabLab 1.0. Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1220157565800140.

The competition is organized in collaboration with the “3D Concrete Competition,” the research and innovation platform “Morberga Studija,” the creative education platform “Creatives Tuesdays,” the construction mixture manufacturer “SAKRET,” the young architects’ club “Atelpa,” the RTU Science and Innovation Center, and the startup “Printstone Innovations.”

Here are some photos from the final event of the previous 3D Concrete competition held in 2022, including the three winning designs.

At the beginning of September, our project researchers had the opportunity to participate in a digital construction seminar in Braunschweig, organized as part of the AMC – TRR 277 project. There was a unique opportunity to see the large-scale framed 3D printing machine COBOD-BOD2 in action, which is particularly suited for printing large-scale objects (with dimensions of up to 8x15m). We were also personally introduced to both BAUBOT robots, which operate on this digital construction site.

After the seminar, we attended the world-leading conference on digital concrete technology, Digital Concrete 2024, in Munich. It was truly inspiring to listen to presentations from leading experts on their experiences with digital construction and to hear their perspectives on future research in construction optimization and the reuse of various materials.

Alice Sapata gave a presentation on 3D printable cement-based composites with oil shale ash, which is a part of this project.

Find the proceedings here https://digital-concrete.com/frontend/index.php?folder_id=9304&page_id=

Additionally, had the chance to visit newly opened pavilion by 3DPGroup and icon BOD – Europe’s first 3D printed building finished in 2017 by COBOD – both located in Copenhagen.