Ukrainian-German startup Lemki Robotix has designed and 3D printed a compact camper van made from 7,400 recycled plastic bottles (with fiberglass reinforcement). The mobile home, called Discover 3D, was made in partnership with iScale3D, a specialist in large-format polymer 3D printing, and showcases how plastic waste can be reused to enable independent, off-grid adventures.

Discover 3D is characterized by an organic rounded structure and is highly compact, spanning just over three meters in length and nearly two meters in height and width. The camper is designed to be rigged up to a truck or vehicle and comes equipped with integrated solar-rechargeable batteries, which provide power to the off-grid accommodation. The pod-like camper also integrates a variety of smart sensors, which monitor and control things like water level, battery charge and temperature. In terms of the design, the 3D printed caravan includes a sleeping nook, storage space and kitchenette, which has room for a 40L water tank.

In creating the mobile home, Lemki Robotix prioritized the creation of a lightweight and thus easily transportable structure. To this end, it succeeded: Discover 3D’s shell weighs only 250 kg, consisting of strong but lightweight walls, measuring under a centimeter in thickness. ( By contrast, traditional teardrop camper trailers of a similar size typically weigh upwards of 500 kg.) These walls are able to maintain their strength despite their thinness since they are 3D printed from a composite material that combines recycled polypropylene with fiberglass reinforcement. The camper van can also be recycled at the end of its life, since according to Lemki Robotix 80% of its materials are recyclable.

The camper shell was 3D printed using an FGF technology that leverages a KUKA robotic system and custom printing software. According to the company, its 3D printer can print structures up to 3.2 x 3.2 x 8 meters and the technology is highly scalable. The Discover 3D seems above all to be a demonstration of both the process’ capabilities and how large-format 3D printing can be used to create more sustainable mobile homes that can be customized to various climates and uses. This model in particular, is “designed for a family of three who appreciate modern technology and comfortable outdoor recreation.”

Lemki Robotix is now working to expand its technology to “make motorhomes available to a wider range of consumers, launch mass production, and develop solutions for sustainable living in harmony with nature.” While this is the first time we’ve seen a completely 3D printed mobile camper, it is not the first time that 3D printing has been used in the context: last year, we wrote about how Materialogic is using 3D scanning and LFAM to customize mobile home interiors.