A robot designed to make bricklaying smarter, faster, safer and greener has arrived in the UK.
Wall-laying terra-based robot WLTR (Walter) will be used for the first time in Durham on a development of 27 houses by development company JT Lifestyle Homes.
The robot can lay up to 200 square metres of masonry per day, dramatically outstripping human output.
It can also construct walls up to 3.5 metres high without scaffolding – with plans underway to increase this to 5 metres – and work in all conditions including wind, rain and extreme temperatures. Bosses estimate one robot could build hundreds of homes a year.
鈥淭he construction industry is currently facing severe labour shortages at a time when the government wishes to deliver 1.5 million more homes,鈥� said Dr Jan Telensky, owner and founder of JT Lifestyle Homes.
鈥淭here are simply not enough bricklayers entering the trade to keep up with demand for affordable homes, so we must find new solutions.鈥�
Robot Walter was developed in the Czech Republic in partnership with GreenBuild and has been brought to the UK by JT Lifestyle Homes, who specialise in smart, affordable homes and commercial spaces of the future.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are currently more than 35,000 job vacancies in the construction industry – the highest rate in any sector.
In March, Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised a 拢600m government war chest to train 60,000 bricklayers, electricians, engineers and carpenters over the next four years.
Dr Telensky added: 鈥淭he construction industry has an ageing workforce, with an average age of 46, and unfortunately not enough young people are looking for trade jobs.
鈥淭he government has ambitious plans for growth and housing and we simply don鈥檛 have the manpower that鈥檚 needed.
鈥淩obot Walter鈥檚 cutting-edge technology has the potential to ease the burden and also create new, highly-skilled jobs for operators who will still be needed to oversee projects.
鈥淎s well as building faster, intelligent monitoring means Robot Walter鈥檚 bricks are laid with ultimate precision which will enhance the overall build quality.鈥�
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