Rebuilding coral reefs
CO2RALS by ING3D
Using purely mineral 3D printing by ING3D GmbH, it is possible for the first time to print natural support elements for corals that are not made of concrete, plastic or other synthetic materials. The individually printed elements are anchored in the sea and can be observed by means of permanently installed underwater cameras as corals colonise them.
Print your own coral, watch it grow and see how biodiversity returns to our ocean
* Crowdfunding starts on September 1st, 2023
Rebuilding coral reefs
– through innovative 3D printing technology
Problem
Coral bleaching is mainly caused by the over-acidification of the seas coupled with the increased temperature. This leads to the dissolution of the lime layers – comparable to removing lime in a kettle, the surfaces of the coral reefs thus dissolve and the corals cannot continue to grow and die.
Solution
Our material is pure volcanic sand that remains stable in acids and high temperatures. This gives the coral larvae a better starting position. Additionally the porous 3D-printed material has a filtering effect on heavy metals and is instantly a natural looking breakwater – like the corals itself. With now more efficient growing corals, CO2 from the sea water can be faster converted in stable lime and the recovering fish population binds additional CO2.
With the drill-like 3D-printed shape we can easily fix the coral substrates on the seabed without using concrete or steel reinforcement like most other coral reafforestation programms.
Vision
In the first step, the coral support elements are printed and anchored on the coasts. Later, heat-resistant coral larvae from the University of Oldenburg will be attached to the surface in advance so that the renaturation can begin as soon as the components are in the sea. In the long term, the components will be produced directly on the coasts from local sands using solar light.
* Crowdfunding starts on September 1st, 2023
pre-orderd corals
crowdfunding financed corals
How It Works
The Printing
With the help of the latest 3D printing technology we are able to print a coral out of mineral material.
Logistics
After printing, the corals are shipped to the Maldives and anchored in the sea by local organisations. Through an underwater camera, it will be possible to observe the new habitat.
Creation of a new coral reef
With the support of our project, not only the coral reefs and thus the entire associated underwater ecosystem are rebuilt. Everyone can watch their coral reef grow and thrive every day. Permanently installed cameras in the sea give everyone the opportunity to continuously watch the individually printed component with your name or logo. Your personal aquarium!
* Crowdfunding starts on September 1st, 2023
About CO2RALS
Since the start of the mineral 3D-printing company ING3D in 2017, we had the idea to print pure coral substrates to start renaturalize the destroyed reefs. All other projects for rebuilding reefs we saw were encouraging, but with the unnatural materials they used like steel, concrete or even plastic, it occured to us – we can do better! After six years development – from the first prototype to our industrial pilot plant – we are finaly able to start the CO2RALS-project. The huge positive feedback we had so far – from cooperation partners, customers and friends – motivated us even more to start with the first step of many for a bright future with intact reefs and a vivid ocean.
* Crowdfunding starts on September 1st, 2023
Our Partners
FAQs
Do supporters receive an invoice?
After the crowdfunding has been successfully completed, we will send you an email to request your billing address. You will then receive the corresponding invoice from ING3D GmbH.
How can the invoice be posted?
Crowdfunding is a marketing campaign and can be recorded as advertising costs by you.
What is implemented when each funding level is reached?
Up to €50,000 we print and attach the requested coral elements in the Maldives and observe the natural colonization of the coral larvae on our elements.
For an amount of more than €50,000, we would be able to apply the coral larvae specifically to our coral elements in advance with a marine biology university and thus ensure a significantly higher chance of breeding.
With more than €300,000 we could set up our own underwater camera system and become location independent.
Why is the attachment of coral elements only carried out in the Maldives?
We chose the “Maldives” location because pre-installed underwater cameras already exist here and we cooperate with several local coral breeding institutes. Other locations such as the Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef could also be implemented with appropriate financial support (>€300,000).
Over how long can the corals be observed?
Coral observation should be ensured for at least two years. Since the underwater cameras have only been used so far, there is no binding framework yet.
Address:
ING3D GmbH
Schwabacher Straße 512
90763 Fürth
Phone:
+49 (0)911 3767 8668
Email:
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Get in touch: info@ing3d.de
