The focus on a potential widespread recession has intensified over the first part of 2023 and the construction industry, among others, is preparing for the impact of a severe economic downturn. While current project backlogs appear stable, contractors are preparing for a potential dearth of business by keeping costs to a minimum. Among the methodologies being used to keep construction costs in line are:

• Reducing the scope and complexity of projects where possible
• Using material alternatives to conserve capital
• Using software to stay on budget
• Managing and reducing construction waste, including typical office waste such as unnecessary print usage
• Reducing change orders or streamlining the change order process to reduce timelines

While many of these strategies require extensive planning and buy-in to be effective, construction companies can both reduce costs and manage better project outcomes using a simple, cost-effective piece of office equipment: the wide format printer. This article takes a closer look at trends in the wide format printing industry that have the potential to help contractors and construction companies amplify results — and revenues.

Benefits of Wide Format Printing in Construction Applications

Contractors and construction companies continue to find new ways to streamline project timelines for better bottom-line savings while maximizing positive project outcomes. One way they are managing these changes is with help from the growing wide format print industry. Specific trends that will have positive effects on the construction sector include:

The Continued Move to 3D Printing

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been a big focus of many industries over the past ten years. While this technology was originally created to assist with better project prototyping, it has emerged as a significant benefit for medical, aerospace, and now the construction sectors. Wide-format 3D printers are currently being used to accomplish building project-related tasks such as cement processing, the creation of building walls, and more. As of this writing, entire buildings have been constructed using large-format 3D printers. In fact, a home can be built using 3D technology in just a few days, significantly shortening project timelines for greater cost-effectiveness. 

In addition, 3D print technology allows for waste reduction that contributes to sustainable business practices, as these printers only use as much material as is needed to create each structure. 

Internet of Things (IoT)

Common workplace challenges for the construction industry include making on-the-fly changes to plans and drawings, among others. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can help enhance efficiency and improve responsiveness to client and project changes. IoT software and solutions can help automate or streamline on-the-job processes, including the monitoring of schedules, assets, and even people. When combined with wide format print technology, an IoT solution offers contractors ways to communicate effortlessly with their print environment to fast-track critical changes to plans and other schematics. 

Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Virtual Reality (VR) 

Interactive print technologies that employ Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Virtual Reality (VR) can help combine both the physical and digital worlds to help clients better understand project builds and to provide a clearer picture of end products. Using printers to capture a 360-degree image that ultimately provides a virtual reality experience for construction team members and clients can help to outline project goals and reduce misunderstandings and miscommunication. 

Blue Technologies Offers the Wide Format Printers You Need

Like any industry, the construction sector is dealing with challenges on several fronts. First, there is the possibility of a recession bringing with it a downturn in building projects. Next, there is increasing demand from clients for faster, better, and more efficient project timelines and outcomes. Fortunately, a wide-format printer can help you achieve some of these goals in a cost-effective way.

At Blue Technologies, we offer a wide array of leading-edge wide-format printers that can help you produce sharp, weather-resistant plan sets and drawings for any application or project. By integrating with your current infrastructure, your team can use extant applications to transmit changes to drawings on the fly, allowing for faster turnaround of change orders and fewer mistakes due to obsolete plan sets.

Help your construction company do more with less. Contact a Blue Technologies consultant and discover how our suite of wide-format printers can help you — and your clients — meet or exceed project goals.