Alquist, a U.S.-based 3D construction printing specialist headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, has entered a major partnership with Walmart and regional construction firms to expand the use of additive manufacturing for retail facilities. The collaboration is described as the largest commercial deployment of 3D construction printing technology in the United States to date.

The Alquist team printed the walls of this 5,000-sq-ft Walmart pickup building in Owens Crossing, Alabama in seven days this February

Following successful completion of two Walmart pickup-centre extensions – an 8,000 sq ft structure in Athens, Tennessee (September 2024) and a 5,000 sq ft building in Owens Crossing, Alabama (February 2025) – Walmart has committed to additional projects. The first under the new arrangement, located in Lamar, Missouri, will begin construction this month, marking Alquist’s third Walmart facility.

Alquist states that its 3D construction printing process delivers structures that are up to three times stronger, 50 percent faster to complete, and more cost-effective than traditional building methods.

To accelerate nationwide rollout, Alquist has teamed with Hugg & Hall Equipment Company, a construction equipment dealer operating in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi, and FMGI, a general contractor with offices in Florida, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. FMGI will own and operate Alquist A1X printers financed and serviced by Hugg & Hall, enabling broader leasing, rental, and training options across the construction sector.

Hugg & Hall president John Hugg commented: "Hugg & Hall Equipment is excited to partner with Alquist and FMGI to bring a new generation of construction equipment to market," adding that the printing technology "will reduce cost while improving build time and move the entire industry toward more sustainable and scalable building practices".

Alquist chief executive Patrick Callahan said: "For the first time ever in our industry, we have the right partners in place to scale 3DCP at a massive level. For years, 3DCP has been an emerging idea. Now, it's a proven solution being deployed by some of the nation's largest companies. This partnership shows what's possible when innovation and collaboration align, and it's only the beginning of what 3D printing will do for commercial construction."

FMGI president and chief executive Darin Ross stated: "What drew us to Alquist was how practical this technology really is, it's faster to mobilise, cleaner on site and delivers consistent quality in every print. For us, this partnership is about transforming how large-scale projects actually get done."

The expanded cooperation establishes a replicable model for rapid deployment of 3D-printed commercial buildings, with more than a dozen additional retail projects already planned across multiple states. The initiative highlights growing industry acceptance of additive construction techniques for their speed, consistency, and resource efficiency.