The growing role of robotics in the construction industry
With productivity gains and safety performance as driving factors, the construction robot market is expected to reach €750 million by 2029, with an average growth of 15.5% per year. We take a closer look at three European startups that have recently made headlines in this sector.
Monumental targets the heavy-duty of working in masonry
In the past, startups specializing in robotics have traditionally focused on developing solutions to assist workers in carrying out the most demanding and difficult tasks, responding precisely to the sorts of problems construction robotics are built to solve.
In February 2024, the Amsterdam-based startup Monumental announced it had emerged from two-and-a-half years of stealth mode with a significant €23.2 million in funding. The funding round was co-led by Plural and Hummingbird Ventures, with participation from Northzone, Foundamental and NP-Hard Ventures.
The Dutch startup is developing a robotic solution based on small, electric autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors, computer vision systems and cranes. Its system features three robots that work in coordination: a robot for transporting bricks, a robot for transporting mortar and a brick-laying robot equipped with two cranes for placing the materials.
Everything is controlled by its proprietary AI-powered software, Atrium, that enables the robots to navigate in tight spaces and perform specific tasks. A bricklayer remains on site to supervise operations and carry out any finishing touches, such as smoothing the mortar, making for a ripe human-machine collaboration.
Baubot launches autonomous construction site helper
The German group Fischer, the construction industry fixing solutions specialist, and the Austrian startup Baubot are also positioning themselves in the field of construction site robotic assistants, by announcing the arrival of their Baubot robot on the French market at the end of 2024. Thanks to its versatile mobile platform, the robot can perform a variety of different construction tasks.
The Austrian startup has developed robots that can load and transport construction materials, but also drill, screw, weld and even 3D print directly on site. What makes Baubot stand out from the crowd is its modularity: different tools can be attached to its robotic arms, so the user can adapt its function to the specific needs of the construction site.
The robots are fitted with advanced sensors and an artificial vision system, which are connected to the construction site’s BIM system, so they can navigate and work safely alongside construction workers.
The robotics-as-a-service model from Kewazo
With the same aim of reducing strenuous, repetitive and dangerous tasks on construction sites, the German startup Kewazo raised €4.2 million in Series A in spring 2024 for its scaffolding assembly robotic solution. The funding round was led by True Ventures, with participation from previous investor MIG AG, bringing the total funds raised since its creation in 2016 to €7.6 million.
The company has developed the Liftbot, a robot that automatically lifts and lowers materials on scaffolding, which is a physically strenuous job for laborers. Apart from erecting scaffolding, these robots are actually pretty versatile. With a few minor adjustments, they can be used for other tasks such as insulation, painting and transporting materials on site. The Liftbot can also collect and analyze operational data.
The robots themselves aren’t the only innovation, as Kewazo’s business model is also breaking the mold: the startup offers rental services and packages that save up to 80% on the rental costs of traditional cranes. This is another step towards the robotics-as-a-service (or RaaS) model, which companies in the construction sector can harness to access advanced robotic solutions without the need for making a substantial initial investment.
For a deeper insight into this topic, read “Construction Robots”, a report published by Sifted in partnership with Leonard.
Robots in construction: Discover the latest report from Sifted, sponsored by Leonard
