Back in 2019, we created “The 3D Bar”: the first bar ever to be completely 3D printed by a robotic AM system, the project was developed for the 2019 edition of Milan Design Week.
The 3D Bar was conceived through a generative design process and produced thanks to Caracol’s deep knowledge of additive manufacturing technologies. To print such a big installation, Caracol has used a proprietary technology that converts industrial robots into extremely fast and flexible 3D printers, able to overcome the limits of traditional printers.

Environmental sustainability is a core element in the design of “The 3D Bar”: since this robotic technology is able to directly process recycled plastics in form of pellets and shreds, every furniture piece of “The 3D Bar”, from stool to counter, is made of recycled PLA. We partnered with Flo Spa and recovered their industrial plastic waste coming from coffee cups, to use it as construction material for “The 3D Bar”.
This circular economy approach, which adds new value to the discarded plastic, combined with additive manufacturing made “The 3D Bar” a virtuous example of an innovative and sustainable crafting solution.