The construction industry has been generally slow to digitalise and adopt new technologies. As an industry, it relies heavily on manual labour and mechanical technologies, resulting in low productivity. Adopting robotics technology at scale across the industry would, theoretically, facilitate an increase in productivity. 

The main types of robots used in construction are caged industrial robots (3D printing, off-site modular construction), industrial co-bots (bricklaying, demolition, materials handling), exoskeletons, drones, and inspection robots. 

Leading construction companies in robotics 

Construction robots can increase safety on construction sites, ensure projects are delivered on time, and help maintain productivity at a time when fewer people are pursuing a career in the construction industry. With advances in off-site modular construction and 3D printing of concrete, construction companies can create higher quality, lower cost builds in line with increased environmental regulation. 

The key barriers to the uptake of more advanced technologies, like robotics, autonomous vehicles, and 3D printing, are the high upfront costs and a long return on investment timeline. As costs decrease and the benefits become increasingly evident, construction companies will implement more robots across the ecosystem. 

Leading adopters of robotics in the construction industry are Bouygues, Caterpillar, Royal BAM Group, Skanska, and STRABAG.  

Discover the leading robotics companies in the construction industry 

Using its experience in the sector, World Construction Network has listed some of the leading companies providing products and services related to robotics.  

The information provided in the download document is drafted for construction industry executives and technology leaders involved in robotics solutions.  

The download contains detailed information on suppliers and their product offerings, alongside contact details to aid purchase or hiring decisions.  

Amongst the leading vendors of robotics and construction robotics companies in the construction industry are Construction of Buildings on Demand (COBOD), Construction Robotics, Brokk, Kespry, Aeryon Labs, Skycatch, FBR, Built Robotics, Scaled Robotics, and Shimizu.  

Future of robotics in construction 

According to GlobalData forecasts, the robotics industry was worth $45.3bn in 2020. By 2030, it will have grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.8% to $568.1bn. Annual growth rates will peak at 37.0% in 2024. 

Sales of industrial robots hit $14.6bn in 2020, equivalent to 32.2% of the total robotics market. By 2030, this segment will be worth $352.1bn, having grown at a CAGR of 37.5% between 2020 and 2030. At $30.7bn in 2020, the service robot market was larger than the industrial robots sector. However, the industrial robot market will grow faster over the next decade.