Introducing Surface Assist: A Robotic Arm Revolutionizing Complex Construction Tasks
Haulotte has partnered with Builder Assist, an innovative startup specializing in construction robotics, to advance the development of Surface Assist-a robotic arm engineered to execute intricate operations such as painting in tight spaces and overhead drilling when mounted on mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).
Overcoming Construction Site Challenges with Robotic Innovation
The collaboration between Haulotte and Builder Assist targets critical issues faced by the construction sector, including labor shortages, hazardous working conditions, repetitive manual tasks, and limited accessibility. Surface Assist is integrated into various Haulotte MEWP models and is currently undergoing field trials on active construction sites where physical strain and access difficulties are prevalent, particularly for tasks like overhead drilling and facade treatments such as coating and painting.
This pilot phase aims to evaluate both market demand and the practical benefits of embedding robotic technology into access equipment, focusing on enhancing safety and efficiency.
Alban Brisy, CEO and co-founder of Builder Assist, emphasizes, “Deploying robotics in construction is meaningful only when applied to the most demanding and risk-prone tasks. Our partnership with Haulotte merges expertise in elevated work with cutting-edge robotics to address real-world construction challenges.”
Enhancing Safety and Efficiency in High-Risk, Repetitive Elevated Work
This initiative aligns seamlessly with Haulotte’s innovation roadmap, which seeks to broaden the functionality of MEWPs by integrating robotics, automation, and digital solutions to tackle complex construction tasks.
Building on its previous collaboration with Autonomous Mobile Blast Paint (AMBP)-a robotic system designed for cleaning, blasting, and painting in shipyards-Haulotte continues to cultivate a network of pioneering partners to address challenging, hazardous, and hard-to-access applications.
Stéphane Renouard, founder of AMBPR, notes, “Our joint efforts with Haulotte since 2020 have produced a unique robotic platform that safely and efficiently manages large-scale vertical surface treatments in naval and industrial environments, significantly improving operator safety and minimizing environmental impact.”
Philippe Luminet, Haulotte’s Innovation Director, adds, “Integrating robotics into elevated work opens transformative possibilities. Through our collaboration with Builder Assist, we are developing practical solutions that combine access expertise with automation and deep operational insights to deliver measurable benefits on construction sites.”
As the construction industry increasingly embraces automation, Surface Assist exemplifies how robotics can mitigate labor shortages, reduce risks, and enhance productivity in demanding elevated work scenarios.
