3D Express: Alquist to Print 12+ Projects with Walmart and Other Commercial Retailers 

This week in 3DExpress, we’re seeing 3D printing scale across industries in surprising ways. Construction company Alquist announced a major partnership with Walmart and other retailers to deploy more than a dozen printed commercial buildings across the U.S. In the cultural sphere, William & Mary and Jamestown Rediscovery are using 3D scanning and printing to bring the stories of 17th-century women to life. Researchers also unveiled the most detailed digital model to date of Easter Island’s iconic moai statues. In healthcare, a Saudi hospital used patient-specific 3D printed guides to save a patient’s leg from amputation. In sports, a custom 3D printed brace is helping an NFL quarterback return to the field safely. Together, these stories highlight how additive manufacturing continues to push boundaries in construction, education, archaeology, medicine, and athletics.

Alquist to Print 12+ Projects with Walmart and Other Commercial Retailers 

Alquist, a 3D construction printing company, announced its collaboration with retailer Walmart Inc and other commercial retailers to deliver more than a dozen construction projects across the United States. According to Alquist, this marks the largest-scale deployment of 3D-printed commercial building technology in U.S. history. Alquist launched a partnership model with Hugg & Hall, a construction and equipment rental dealer, and FMGI, a full-service general contractor, to achieve this scale. Within this new system, FMGI owns and will lease Alquist A1X printers, financed and serviced by Hugg & Hall. This model allows Alquist to sell, lease and rent its proprietary equipment and training methods to the broader construction industry. 

This December, in Lamar, Missouri, the first project under this new model will begin. It will be Alquist’s third Walmart project. “For the first time ever in our industry, we have the right partners in place to scale 3DCP at a massive level,” Patrick Callahan, CEO of Alquist said. “For years, 3DCP has been an emerging idea. Now, it’s a proven solution being deployed by some of the nation’s largest companies.” 

Artifacts 3D Printed for Learning Experience about 17th Century Women in Jamestown 

William & Mary Libraries and Jamestown Rediscovery teamed up to 3D scan and print artifacts for a hands-on learning experience about 17th-century women in Jamestown. Because many of the original objects can’t be handled for preservation reasons, the project created touchable replicas tied to the stories of six women, funded through a Virginia Humanities grant. Amy Stallings, an adjunct professor of history at William & Mary and historian for Jamestown women’s history programming, curated a wide-ranging artifact list to be 3D scanned and printed. Among them were a beaver mandible, a spade nosing, and shards of a ceramic jug. She hopes that these objects will help bring the women’s lives to life. Stallings explained, “Creating that physical link can be so much more powerful than simply talking about a person.” 

Andrew Francois, an intern working on the project, and Leah Stricker, a curator at Jamestown Rediscovery, work together to produce 3D scans and models. (Photo Credit: Ash Gonzales via William & Mary News)

High-Res 3D Scan Lets You Explore Easter Island’s Moai Like Never Before

A new high-resolution 3D model of the famous moai on Easter Island is giving researchers and the public their closest look yet at how these massive statues were carved. Developed by teams at the Idiap Research Institute and the Universidad de Chile, the project uses drone photogrammetry and laser scanning to map the quarry at Rano Raraku, where many moai were sculpted and where several unfinished figures still lie in place. The result is an incredibly detailed digital model that captures chisel marks, texture, and erosion patterns with a clarity you’d never get on-site. It gives researchers new data on how ancient carvers shaped the statues from volcanic tuff, while letting anyone “fly through’’ the quarry and explore areas that are normally restricted. It’s a fresh, accessible window into one of the world’s most iconic archaeological sites.

Easter Island Moai Statues (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)

Saudi Hospital Uses 3D Printing to Save Patient’s Leg

A team of surgeons at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh successfully removed a complex tumor from a patient’s upper femur and hip joint using patient-specific 3D printed guides. The tumor’s location typically carries a high risk of amputation, but the custom guides mapped the bone’s irregular contours, allowing millimeter-precise resection while preserving the joint. High-resolution imaging and 3D printing enabled the surgeons to perform the procedure with unprecedented accuracy and safety. The patient was able to walk within hours after surgery thanks to an immediately implanted custom-fitted prosthetic hip, dramatically shortening the usual recovery period. The hospital’s 3D printing program, recognized globally, provides surgeons with visual and tactile blueprints that reduce uncertainty, save bone, and expand what is surgically possible. Experts say the approach is transforming care for patients with aggressive bone tumors in anatomically challenging areas, making high-risk, limb-saving procedures more consistent and reproducible.

(Photo Credit: King Faisal Specialist Hospital)

NFL Footballer Uses 3D Printed Pad to Support Injured Leg

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is navigating a fibula injury while wearing a custom 3D printed pad on game days. The pad was created by two of Jones’ former Duke teammates through their company, PROTECT3D, which specializes in patient-specific 3D printed bracing. Using a simple smartphone scan of Jones’ leg, the device is designed to fit precisely, providing lightweight and anatomically accurate protection without restricting movement on the field. Jones praised the innovation, noting that it is low-profile and comfortable, allowing him to focus on the game. PROTECT3D combines clinical precision, biomechanics, and advanced 3D printing to produce braces that aid faster recovery and improved performance. The process involves scanning the patient’s anatomy, designing the device with millimeter-level accuracy, 3D printing it in an FDA-certified facility, and delivering it directly to the user. Jones’ experience highlights how 3D printing is transforming sports medicine, offering custom, functional solutions that can help athletes recover stronger and return to play safely.

NFL 3D Printed Pads (Photo Credit: PROTECT3D)

What do you think of Walmart expanding into construction-scale 3D printing through its new partnership with Alquist? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn or Facebook pages! Plus, don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter to get the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox. You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel. 

*Cover Photo Credit: Alquist 3D