Exploration and Practical Research on Process Solutions for Achieving Complex UHPC Shapes at Low Cost

Breaking cost barriers through technological innovation, turning complex UHPC shapes from drawings into architectural reality.

In the field of contemporary architectural design, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has become an ideal material for shaping landmark buildings thanks to its outstanding mechanical properties and design freedom. However, achieving complex shapes often comes with high costs, which has become a key bottleneck constraining industry development. As an industry leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group has always been committed to solving this challenge through process innovation, and has developed a solution that balances economy and artistry.

Cost Pain Points of Complex UHPC Shapes and Paths to Process Breakthrough

Traditional production of complex UHPC components often faces problems such as high mold costs, heavy material waste, and low forming efficiency. Based on engineering practice covering one million square meters, the Qinglong team innovatively adopted a "modular mold + intelligent casting" process system: through parametric design to optimize mold structures, irregular components are broken down into standardized modules, raising mold reuse rates by more than 60%; combined with the independently developed super-fluid UHPC formula, complex curved surfaces are formed in a single pour, keeping material waste within 3%. In a landmark project, this process reduced the production cost of double-curved curtain wall components by 42% and shortened the construction period by 30 days, confirming the feasibility of the low-cost solution.

Full-Chain Collaboration: Cost Control from Design Deepening to Construction Implementation

As a national high-tech enterprise integrating design deepening, manufacturing, and construction installation, Qinglong has built a trinity cost control system of "design-production-construction." In the design phase, BIM technology is used for shape feasibility analysis to avoid construction difficulties in advance; in production, the 600,000 ㎡ annual capacity of the Nanning, Guangxi production base dilutes fixed costs through large-scale production; in the construction phase, 3D scanning positioning technology achieves millimeter-level installation accuracy, reducing on-site rework costs. This full-process optimization model enabled Qinglong to keep the cost per square meter at 75% of the industry average in the translucent concrete project at Century Plaza on Nanjing East Road.

Driven by Technological Innovation: A Dual Cost-Reduction Strategy in Materials and Processes

Relying on its provincial R&D center and 58 patented technologies, Qinglong Group continues to make breakthroughs in material formulations and forming processes. By incorporating industrial solid waste to replace part of the cement, a low-cost UHPC formula was developed, reducing material costs by 15%; the innovative application of 3D printing pre-forming technology achieves near-net-size forming of complex hollow components, cutting subsequent processing costs by 50%. These technological achievements are applied not only in domestic projects but are also exported to Southeast Asian markets through Qinglong Malaysia Building Materials Co., Ltd., winning high recognition from overseas customers.

Industry Value: Bringing UHPC Artistic Shapes into More Architectural Scenarios

From the curved curtain walls of grand theaters to the irregular sculptures of commercial complexes, from artistic benches in municipal landscapes to themed components in cultural tourism projects, Qinglong's low-cost process solutions are redefining the application boundaries of UHPC. As a vice chairman unit of the China GRC Association and a participant in drafting the industry standard "General Technical Requirements for Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Non-Load-Bearing Components," Qinglong has always practiced its mission of "creating beautiful architecture," enabling more designers' creativity through accessible technology and driving the architectural decoration industry toward a more economical and more artistic future. Going forward, Qinglong will continue to focus on UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP material innovation, building on 28 years of industry experience to provide global customers with architectural decoration solutions that combine cost advantages with artistic value.