WASP – 3D printing “Made in Italy” for architecture, design and sustainable production

Pioneer of clay, pellet and large format 3D printing “Made in Italy”

Author: Carsten Hemmerling
Source: 3dwasp

Anyone involved in large-format 3D printing, ceramic applications and experimental construction projects will inevitably come across one name: WASP – World's Advanced Saving Project .
The company from Massa Lombarda in Italy has been developing professional 3D printers for more than a decade, and they all have one thing in common: they think bigger than classic desktop printing.

WASP builds machines for architecture, art, design, medicine, and research – from compact clay printers to giant construction 3D printers capable of producing entire houses from earth, clay, or other natural materials. At the same time, the team places great emphasis on sustainability and the idea of ​​using additive manufacturing to tackle real-world problems such as housing, energy, and resource consumption.

Origin and Vision: World's Advanced Saving Project

WASP was founded in 2012 by Massimo Moretti and a team of designers and engineers. Their starting point was the vision of using 3D printing specifically for fundamental needs : affordable housing, local production, repairability, and a circular economy.

The name says it all:
World's Advanced Saving Project

The idea behind it: Technology should be used to conserve resources, reduce waste and empower people to produce more themselves – from furniture and everyday objects to entire buildings.

Today, WASP supplies its printers worldwide to research institutions, industry, manufacturers, makers, and art projects. What began as an experimental project has become a company that clearly positions itself between a high-tech manufacturer and an innovation lab.

Technological focus areas: Delta, Clay, Pellet & Robots

Instead of just building "classic" FDM machines, WASP identified and consistently expanded its own niche markets early on. Three key areas stand out in particular.

1. Delta 3D printer

Most WASP systems rely on delta kinematics . This ensures high dynamics, a rounded build volume and slim mechanics – ideal for tall, sculptural or organic objects .

Typical examples:

• Delta WASP 2040 / Industrial X – compact, professional FDM printers for engineering plastics.
• Delta WASP 3MT / 4070 / 40100 – large systems for architectural models, furniture, art objects and prototypes in the meter range.

WASP Delta printers are particularly interesting where freedom of shape, height and smooth movements are more important than the classic "box format" of card printers.

2. LDM / Clay 3D Printing

A hallmark of WASP is 3D printing with clay and other pasty materials . The so-called LDM (Liquid Deposition Modeling) technology processes ceramic materials such as clay, porcelain, stoneware, or other viscous materials.

Typical features of the Clay series:

• Direct printing onto the floor or a board – ideal for large, tall objects
• Construction chamber accessible from three sides to allow intervention during printing.
• Special LDM extruders for viscous, non-melting materials
• Construction area up to approximately Ø 400 × 1000 mm for the large Delta Clay machines

With this, WASP has created its own category: ceramic 3D printing for workshops, artists, designers and manufacturers .

3. Pellet and granule printing

Another focus is on printers that process plastic granules instead of filament . This reduces material costs, enables the use of recycled materials, and allows for extremely high throughput.

Typical applications:

• Furniture & Interior (chairs, tables, lights, room structures)
• Trade fair and shopfitting
• Large-scale prototypes and mold making

Pellet printing is particularly interesting when large components with economical material usage are required – for example in furniture design or experimental architectural projects.

Architecture & Construction: Printing Houses from Earth

WASP became particularly well-known for its projects in the field of 3D-printed architecture .

Using large-format printers like the Crane WASP series, the company is developing systems that can build houses from local, natural materials – such as earth, clay, or fiber-reinforced mixtures. The goal is to enable affordable, sustainable housing solutions for different regions of the world in the long term.

In addition, there are spectacular reference projects, such as:

• Demonstration houses made from natural materials
• Pop-up pavilions, installations and showrooms for brands
• Research projects related to sustainable building and circular economy

WASP positions itself here not only as a machine manufacturer, but also as a development partner for additive manufacturing processes – including material formulations, process development and architectural concepts.

Applications in art, design, medicine and industry

Beyond architecture, WASP serves a wide range of industries:

• Art & Sculpture
  Large-scale sculptures, installations and experimental forms, often using clay or nature-based materials.
• Design & Furniture Making
  Chairs, tables, lamps, modular furniture, parametric structures – often linked with digital parametrics, i.e. directly from CAD or generative design.
• Medical & Dental
  Special systems and materials for biocompatible applications, orthoses, models and research projects.
• Industry & Prototyping
  Professional FDM systems for engineering plastics, functional prototypes, fixtures, tools and small series production.

This makes WASP less "just a printer manufacturer" and more a platform provider for digital manufacturing with a clear specialization in special materials and large volumes.

Ecology and social responsibility

Sustainability is a central element of the company's philosophy.

• Use of recyclable or natural materials (pellets, soil, clay, bio-based plastics)
• Strong focus on local production – materials should be available locally whenever possible.
• Projects that address real problems: housing, education, local value creation, repair culture

WASP sees itself as a project that combines technical innovation with social and environmental responsibility – and that is still rather the exception in the 3D printing world.

Services, Academy and Ecosystem

Today, the company encompasses more than "just" hardware.

• An online shop for printers, extruders, materials, spare parts and accessories
• The WASP Academy offers courses on clay printing, large-format 3D printing, materials science, and professional applications.
• Support & Service with documentation, tutorials, remote maintenance and international partners
• A growing network of dealers, service partners and reference projects worldwide

This means WASP offers a complete ecosystem , ranging from training and machine sales to project support.

For anyone who thinks beyond classic FDM desktop printing – be it in the fields of architecture, ceramics, furniture, art or sustainable production – WASP is an extremely exciting supplier:

• Specializing in clay, pellet, and large-format printing
• A clear vision for sustainability and resource conservation
• A wide range of products from compact professional printers to construction 3D printers
• An Italian manufacturer that visibly combines technology, design and a spirit of experimentation.

Especially in combination with your offerings (additive manufacturing, 3D scanning, special projects), WASP could be an excellent fit for an expanded service or training strategy – for example, for clay workshops, architectural models, furniture made from recycled materials, or sustainable interior projects.