14:59, 17 January 2026

Russia Will Test 3D-Printed Concrete in Metro Construction

Moscow transit builders are set to trial a concrete 3D-printing system at a new metro station, aiming to cut costs, simplify logistics, and bring additive manufacturing into large-scale infrastructure projects.

Russia is preparing to test concrete 3D printing in metro construction. The Moscow Innovation Cluster and engineering holding Mosinzhproekt will pilot a construction 3D printer at the Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye station, which is currently under development. If the test is successful, additive construction technologies could be used in other infrastructure projects, according to the Moscow city construction authority.

Replacing Concrete Mixers With a Printer

The CemANT construction 3D printer was developed by the Moscow-based company RusEnergoProekt. The tests will be conducted under the supervision of the Moscow Innovation Cluster Foundation and the Moscow Department of Urban Planning Policy.

The system prepares the concrete mixture directly at the point of placement, eliminating the need for traditional concrete mixers and pumping equipment. Dry materials are supplied from a remote distance, while specialized additives can be used to accelerate curing or improve fire resistance.

Testing will continue through April 2026. After that, specialists will assess printing timelines, structural quality, and operational characteristics, as well as the impact on construction costs and logistics. Based on these results, recommendations will be prepared on whether the technology can be scaled to other construction sites.

Part of a Broader Additive Manufacturing Push

“Our task is to turn innovation into a working management solution with a measurable effect and the potential for further deployment and scaling,” said Aleksey Parabuchev, CEO of the Moscow Innovation Cluster Foundation. - “We help move projects from idea to implementation in a way that allows results to be measured in numbers—key performance indicators, timelines, and costs. It’s important that partners have a solid basis for making adoption decisions based on real-world results. That’s when a technology becomes a practical tool that can be replicated while maintaining the required quality and reliability of production processes.”

The metro trial follows earlier developments in Russian additive manufacturing. Previously, TsNIITMASH, part of Rosatom’s machine-building division, developed two next-generation 3D printers designed for producing complex metal components, as previously reported.

Together, these projects point to a broader effort to move 3D printing from experimental pilots into heavy industry—testing whether additive technologies can perform not just in factories, but in long-life infrastructure projects such as metro systems.

Industry and import substitution