Duondolo: A Modern Rocking Chair Produced in 18 Hours with Large-Scale 3D Printing

Unveiled at Milan Design Week 2026, the Duondolo rocking chair put the transformation that large-scale 3D printing brings to furniture design on full display. Designed by Italian designer Valentina Bottani in collaboration with Osmotica Design, this crescent-shaped chair reimagines the classic rocker, offering a side-to-side rocking experience instead of the usual back-and-forth motion. Behind it stands Heron, the industrial LFAM (Large Format Additive Manufacturing) platform from Caracol.

Duondolo: Design Philosophy and Innovative Structure

Duondolo takes its name from the Italian words “due” (two) and “dondolo” (to rock), and was conceived as a relational object that brings two people together. As a young designer and graduate of Politecnico di Milano, Bottani was able to design freely on this project, without the burden of traditional mould costs, rigid production schedules or structural limitations. The result: a piece of furniture measuring 2300 × 1050 × 1230 mm that is as eye-catching as it is functional.

• Material: Recycled PETG (rPETG) + 30% glass-fibre reinforcement — an eco-friendly composite that meets demanding structural requirements.
• Production time: Just 18 hours, printed as a single piece.
• Technology: Caracol Heron robotic LFAM platform — large-format thermoplastic extrusion.
• Exhibition: Opened to visitors at Milan Design Week 2026.

LFAM Technology and the Caracol Heron Platform

Caracol’s Heron AM platform is an LFAM system mounted on a robotic arm. At its core it relies on the same principle as FDM technology: it melts thermoplastic material and deposits it layer by layer. However, by working at an industrial scale it can produce parts that are metres in size. The Heron platform is compatible with composite thermoplastics and is used across a wide range of sectors, from furniture and aerospace to marine and automotive. It has previously been used to produce a large public art installation in Colorado, the world’s largest 3D-printed restaurant structure in Dubai, and a bespoke retail space for Australian jeweller Hardy Brothers.

For Duondolo specifically, the chosen rPETG+GF30 material answers both sustainability goals — thanks to its recycled content — and the structural durability a large chair has to provide, thanks to the glass-fibre reinforcement. This kind of 3D printing with engineering materials offers a broad range of applications, from prototype to finished product.

The Impact of Large-Scale 3D Printing on Furniture Design

The Duondolo project clearly demonstrates the kind of difference large-scale 3D printing can make in the furniture sector. As Caracol puts it: “No moulds, no overproduction — a single, unique object produced in 18 hours to full specification.” This approach delivers both time and cost advantages over traditional manufacturing, especially for small-batch and bespoke production. The ability for designers to take the forms they imagine straight into production, free of mould constraints, opens the door to a new design language that pushes the boundaries of furniture.

For your own project too, you can take advantage of 3D-printed production at large or small scale by getting an instant price quote. Whether it is a prototype or a finished product, bringing your designs to life with the right material and technology is entirely possible. As Caracol has proven with Duondolo, the advantages of 3D printing in prototyping show themselves not only in speed but also in creative freedom.

Let’s assess the right material and size for your project together — upload your design from our online order page and receive your quote within minutes.