ABB Robotics and Samsung E&A Team Up To Drive Automation in Construction

ABB Robotics has entered into an agreement with Samsung E&A to supply the needs of the construction industry through automated factories. In this partnership, ABB robots will be implemented in Samsung E&A automated facilities for building prefabricated modules to be used at construction sites. The partnership aims to support safety and sustainability while increasing quality and productivity in the construction industry.

Craig McDonnell (left), ABB Robotics' Managing Director of Business Line Industries, and Bryan Lee (right), Samsung E&A's Head of Smart Automation Team, shake hands at the partnership announcement. Image used courtesy of ABB

Deploying ABB Robots

ABB Robotics is a well-established leader in automation systems, serving nearly every manufacturing industry, including the construction and building industries. Because of this experience, robots from ABB will be deployed in Samsung’s smart factories, called Smart Shops, to speed up the building of prefabricated modules used in construction sites. 

Of the partnership, Craig McDonnell, ABB Robotics’ Managing Director of Business Line Industries, stated, “Through accurate, flexible and consistent performance, our robots will enable Samsung E&A to use its Smart Shops to increase productivity by producing more parts in less time, improving quality and enhancing sustainability through reduced waste.” He also pointed out that the reduction of waste is a major pain point in construction, as nearly one-third of the world’s waste comes from the construction industries.

Custom pipe welding in a Samsung E&A Smart Piping Shop. Image used courtesy of Samsung E&A

Samsung E&A Smart Shops

Samsung E&A (formerly Samsung Engineering) has been developing Smart Shops to speed up manufacturing output onsite. In these Smart Shops, common and custom components can be manufactured in-house using robots to produce the parts automatically. 

The Smart Shops are modular, meaning each has a specific function and can be deployed in different places. Samsung E&A’s Smart Shops include Smart Piping Shops, where custom piping and joints are manufactured, and Smart Steel Shops, where steel components are welded to form structural shapes. Each modular shop can produce custom parts specific to the site, but the shop itself is flexible enough to be used at many different sites.

“By bringing production into automated factories, our smart shops will be able to make engineering, procurement and construction project execution more competitive while delivering a positive impact to the pipe and steel structure manufacturing industry,” stated Bryan Lee, Head of the Smart Automation Team at Samsung E&A.
 

ABB Robotics and Samsung E&A seek to increase sustainability and efficiency at construction sites with the use of Smart Shops. Image used courtesy of Samsung E&A

Robotic Automation in Construction

The ability to deploy Samsung’s Smart Shops near large construction projects means less time spent ordering supplies, less time waiting for delivery, and less waste. Anyone who has worked in the trades knows the old adage about adding “10%” or “25%” to whatever is purchased to cover mistakes: pipes being cut too short, lost or dropped bolts, and so on. With Smart Shops, the right components are delivered at the right time with minimal loss.

Furthermore, implementing ABB's well-established robots in these Smart Shops combines state-of-the-art, tried-and-true robots with modular deployment of manufacturing cells. Ultimately, this has the potential to save construction projects money while also reducing the waste they produce.