- Robotic construction company FastBrick (FBR) has completed a pilot program with GP Vivienda, one of Mexico’s biggest homebuilders
- FBR has its sights on the North American market after the company’s HadrianX robot built four Mexican-style houses in less than four days
- The next phase of the Building Pilot Program Agreement will see GP Vivienda produce concrete blocks for use with HadrianX
- The companies can then work towards the rollout of HadrianX into the Mexican market — pending COVID-19 restrictions and regulatory approvals
- FBR closed Tuesday’s session 4.84 per cent in the green at 6.5 cents
Robotic construction company FastBrick (FBR) has completed a pilot program with GP Vivienda, one of Mexico’s biggest homebuilders.
The program may help pave the way for FBR into the North American market after the company’s HadrianX robot built four Mexican-style houses in less than four days.
Viva Mexico
Two of the two-bedroom, one-bathroom structures were built indoors at FBR’s premises.
The other two were simultaneously built side-by-side outdoors at the same facility, demonstrating the HadrianX robot’s capabilities as it would be applied in housing developments in Mexico.
FBR’s Managing Director and CEO, Mike Pivac, says HadrianX passed the test with flying colours.
“Completing two structures side by side simultaneously for the first time without having to move the Hadrian X from its starting position was a great demonstration of its capabilities and the value it presents to a market like Mexico, where there is an acute shortage of high quality, affordable housing,” Mike said.
Building blocks
The next phase of the Building Pilot Program Agreement will see GP Vivienda produce concrete blocks for use with HadrianX.
FBR will then build further Mexican-style structures using the Mexican-made blocks.
Once the block development stage is complete, the companies can work towards the rollout of HadrianX into the Mexican market.
Outlook
There are a number of hurdles to clear before the rollout milestone.
Mexico currently has the world’s seventh-worst outbreak of COVID-19 by case numbers, and with over 60,000 lives lost the country ranks third behind only the U.S. and Brazil. Any moves into the market there will likely have to wait until the worst effects of the pandemic are past.
FBR will also have to achieve certification of the Fastbrick Wall System in the United States and Mexico, and establish a Wall-as-a-Service operating entity in North America to service the Mexican market.
Mike Pivac believes the partnership with GP Vivienda will bring a lot to the table.
“GP Vivienda, a subsidiary of Grupo GP, is one of the largest homebuilders in Mexico, and are a vertically integrated company with the capability [to build] complete residential masterplanned communities, making them an ideal partner for FBR in the region,” Mike said.
“When the time is right we can deploy our robotic technology in the region to address the housing needs of Mexico,” he concluded.
FBR completed its first display home in Perth in July, and is continuing work on next-generation robots to improve the HadrianX system.
FBR closed Tuesday’s session 4.84 per cent in the green at 6.5 cents.