In Germany, the Add Wood exhibition is showcasing the many potential applications for 3D-printed timber, including a coffin and a sofa. Each item in the exhibit was made using EconitWood, a material produced by Additive Tectonics from leftover wood from sawmills and timber harvesting, mixed with a biobased magnesium carbonate binder.
Esmée Willemsen’s contribution was a coffin, called Finalform.stl, which could be adapted for different bodies and include low-cost personalizations. “Using 3D printing as the manufacturing method felt like a natural fit for this project,” Willemsen told design publication dezeen. “The flexibility of this process allows for adaptation to different body types and sizes, which is becoming increasingly important as larger-scale coffins grow in popularity.” Unlike traditional coffins, Finalform.stl does not negatively impact soil, she added.
Friedrich Gerlach designed and produced a two-seater sofa that is biodegradable and can be disassembled completely. “I focused on one key characteristic of this 3D printer: it doesn’t really matter if it’s printing a single small object or an entire large block in one job — both take roughly the same amount of time,” said Gerlach. “Because of this, I decided to design an object that could be efficiently stacked within the printer’s build volume, thereby increasing its overall printing efficiency.”