The labor shortage in the offsite construction industry is showing no sign of ending and because of it, there’s now a growing groundswell of support for investment in robotics in the construction industry.
Robots from the House of Design are hard at work in Blueprint Robotics in Baltimore in the picture above
Around the world, we’re already seeing the potential of robots to make the industry safer and more cost-effective, improve sustainability, enhance quality and cut waste.
In a global survey commissioned by ABB earlier this year, of 1,900 large and small construction businesses in Europe, the U.S., and China; eight in 10 respondents say they would introduce robots onto their sites within the next 10 years to help address key challenges in the industry, including skills and labor shortages, the need for more affordable and environmentally-friendly housing and the ability to reduce the environmental impact of construction.
Humans pick up where the robots leave off, adding details to more customized pieces and moving and packing the products to be shipped to development sites. Humans are also programming the factory robots to ensure that everything is made to specifications.
One of the areas where robotics can have a real impact is in the industry’s ability to meet the massive demand for low-cost housing, through pre-manufacturing units with flexible options and designs. In pilot projects elsewhere in the world, robots are enabling the automated assembly of walls, floors and ceilings for multi-story, multi-unit affordable housing and even producing prefabricated modular homes.
Canadian modular fabrication company Intelligent City has achieved a 10-15% saving on its total build cost using robots, with projected estimates of approximately 30% in longer term savings. This has increased production efficiency by 15% and speed by 38%, while reducing waste by 30%.
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Check out this video of Autovol’s automated assembly lines
Related Articles:
- Robotics Still Limited In Modular Housing Manufacturing
- Robotics Ready To Become The New “Skilled Worker” In Many Modular Factories
- Autovol’s Automation Leading Edge Of Modular Industry’s Future
Gary Fleisher is Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source and Offsite Builder magazine. Email at [email protected]
