Building a house using Plaex blocks isn’t that difficult if you’ve ever played with interlocking brick toys. “Plaex-crete,” a durable composite made up of more than 90% recycled plastic, is used to create Plaex blocks. To create a paste that resembles cement, this plastic is cleaned, shred, and put through an extruder. Colouring agents and UV and flame inhibitors make up the remaining 10% of the block. Consequently, compared to regular bricks of the same size, these blocks are 35% lighter.
One of Plaex blocks’ most distinctive features is its easy-to-use building technique. Construction is simple because these blocks connect without the need for cuts or mortar. The company claims that with the right equipment, a double-story building can be finished in 11–12 days, making it perfect for first-time self-taught individuals or future humanoid robot bricklayers.
“We believe that automation is about to transform our world in a shift bigger than the automobile and the smartphone combined,” the team states. They envision a future where “fleets of robots [will be] assembling and modifying truly circular and affordable buildings.”
Dustin Bowers, the inventor of Plaex, is a carpenter who hit a turning point in 2017 after becoming a father. After reading a research report on the use of plastic as an aggregate in concrete, he became aware of the enormous waste that occurs in the building sector and made the decision to innovate. A-ggregate, EX-truder, and PL-astic are the basis of the name Plaex.
Plaex sources plastics such as PETE, LDPE, PP, and HDPE from “extended producer responsibility” (EPR) partners, predominantly in the form of agricultural waste. This waste is transformed into LinX blocks for landscape walls and circular angling, and Brick&Panel blocks for wall construction.
The durability of these blocks is impressive; they perform well in various tests, including a tractor-ramming test. Although they are hard to break, they can be disassembled easily, much like a Lego tower, eliminating the need for a traditional ‘demo-day’ when dismantling a structure.
Currently, Plaex blocks are available for order and are approved for use in storage, walls, and landscaping. The company is working towards obtaining permits for residential construction.
In collaboration with JOT Design, Plaex recently showcased how their products can be used in home design, moving closer to full certification.
Source: Plaex