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- Perth construction robotics specialist FBR (FBR) has officially completed its first commercial build using its Hadrian X robotic bricklayer
- The Hadrian X is a robotic bricklayer able to slash build times dramatically by laying large bricks fast
- The one-and-a-half-storey high commercial and community centre was built in Byford, Western Australia in just one week, including a weekend break
- The centre was built using what’s known as a double-brick cavity wall, meaning two layers of bricks were laid side by side with a small gap between
- Shares in FBR are sitting grey in early action, currently worth 6.5 cents each
Perth construction robotics specialist FBR (FBR) has officially completed its first commercial build using its Hadrian X robotic bricklayer.
The structure was built in Byford, Western Australia, at an average bricklaying speed of 174 blocks per hour. The Hadrian X device hit a new top speed of 228 blocks in one hour and was able to function properly in hail, high winds, and heavy rains.
What is Hadrian X?
Essentially, Hadrian X is a construction robot.
The robot can be mounted to the back of a truck, boat, or crane and, with its long arm and precise algorithms, can quickly and precisely lay bricks for building work.
Importantly, the Hadrian X device uses blocks specifically designed by FBR for efficient building. According to FBR, the bricks laid by Hadrian are roughly 12 times bigger than standard house bricks while being lighter and stronger, too.
Moreover, these blocks are fused together with a special adhesive that’s able to bond in just 45 minutes, so there’s no more waiting around for mortar to dry.
FBR says that with Hadrian and these larger blocks, building times can be slashed dramatically.
First commercial build
The Byford commercial and community centre was built using what’s known as a double-brick cavity wall.
Essentially, this means two layers of bricks were laid side by side with a small gap — or cavity — between them. This type of wall is typically built to ensure water can’t leak through the walls and for better insulation.
Of course, given the increased size of FBR’s blocks, the 174-block-per-hour average speed actually equates to 800 standard bricks laid per hour. The top speed of 224 FBR blocks is the same as 1049 standard bricks per hour.
For reference, the current world record for bricklaying, according to Guinness World Records, is 914 bricks laid in one hour.
Construction on the Byford site began on Tuesday, September 1, and was completed on Tuesday, September 8, even with Hadrian returning to FBR headquarters over the weekend.
FBR Managing Director and CEO Mike Pivac said the construction of this first non-residential structure is a significant step for commercialisation of the Hadrian tech and the company’s “Wall as a Service” strategy.
“This structure is the first demonstration of Wall as a Service in a suburban environment for a client, and we are very pleased with how the Hadrian X and our team performed,” Mike said.
“We have proven that we are capable of building entire communities, not just the residential structures within them, which is important across the globe but especially so in developing countries where access to infrastructure is often limited,” he said.
The completed building is one-and-a-half storeys high.
Shares in FBR are sitting grey in early action, currently worth 6.5 cents each in a $135.11 million market cap.
