AUAR brings its robotic micro-factories to the U.S.

Automated Architecture, or AUAR, yesterday said it is shipping two of its Micro-Factories, which feature ABB robotic arms, to the U.S. This is the Bristol, U.K.-based construction technology startup’s first expansion of operations to North America.

The U.S. is facing a massive shortage of housing in the coming years, with the country being short somewhere between 4 million and 7 million homes, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. Labor shortages and fragmented value chains exacerbate the problem, said AUAR.

Rival Holdings, a real estate development and construction firm, plans to deploy AUAR’s Micro-Factories to build thousands of homes across the Midwest. AUAR said its partnership with Rival Holdings aims to build homes that are not only affordable but also built to high standards, ensuring durability and environmental efficiency.

“We are really excited to partner with Rival Holdings to bring our cutting-edge robotic Micro-Factories to the United States,” stated Mollie Claypool, co-founder and CEO of AUAR. “This partnership is our first in the U.S. and will enable us to scale up the production of high-quality, affordable and sustainable homes where there is a huge and urgent need for them.”

Automated Architecture looks to transform building with AI

Claypool founded Automated Architecture in 2022 with Gilles Retsin, chief technology officer and chief architect. They had worked together for more a decade researching how robotics, generative design, and AI could transform housing.

AUAR said it works with homebuilders, developers, and manufacturers, giving them access to its technology stack of robots and AI-powered, design-to-manufacturing software. The company claimed that its Micro-Factories can increase efficiencies, predictability, and oversight, while also reducing financial risk and environmental costs when building timber homes.

Rival Holdings and AUAR said the two Micro-Factories shipped to the U.S. can each produce up to 180 homes a year. Unlike existing systems, they don’t require large factories to be set up and have a quick lead time of 12 weeks from order to shipping, said the partners.

The Micro-Factories are shipped in standard containers, with all the required components pre-assembled for quick deployment at Rival’s facilities.

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AUAR partners with ABB for efficiency, consistency

ABB’s technologies are at the heart of the Micro-Factories, executing tasks like modular assembly, AUAR said. The companies first announced their partnership in March.

Prior to working with AUAR, ABB said its robots have been used in modular assembly and 3D printing building projects worldwide. ABB robots have also been part of academic projects researching ways to integrate robotic automation into construction. 

“By integrating ABB’s advanced robotic technologies into AUAR’s Micro-Factories, we are addressing critical global challenges such as labor and skills shortages,” said Craig McDonnell, managing director of business-line industries at ABB Robotics.

“Our shared commitment to sustainable construction is pivotal in reducing the environmental impact of the industry, which currently accounts for 11% of total global emissions,” he added. “We are excited to welcome our partners in the U.S. as they expand their impact outside of Europe for the first time, paving the way for a greener, more efficient future in construction.”

ABB equipped its robots with vision and AI capabilities for speed, flexibility, and consistency. It said they enable AUAR’s partners to enhance efficiency, predictability, and oversight – while cutting financial risks and minimizing the overall environmental impact of timber home construction. ABB teams in the U.K., U.S., and globally are working to support the collaboration.

Partners plan to reduce labor costs, speed home building

AUAR offers a flexible “hardware-as-a-service” model for its pop-up Micro-Factories so that partners can quickly get set up without large capital expenses (CapEx).

“We have designed our Micro-Factory solution to be truly accessible to home-builders,” said AUAR CTO Retsin. “We do this by keeping the upfront costs low and allowing for quick installation and delivery.”

“The operation of the Micro-Factory itself doesn’t require extensive training or knowledge of robotics,” he explained. “Our software and team take care of everything from the initial designs down to manufacturing.”

Each Micro-Factory is capable of producing modular timber-frame panels for walls, floors, and roofs that can be quickly assembled on-site to create a variety of home designs. To get the Rival Holdings team up and running with AUAR’s automation, the teams plan to build a low-energy accessory dwelling unit (ADU) first.

The companies then plan to use the Micro-Factories to manufacture homes across the Midwest.