Supporting Robotics in Prefabricated Construction
The evolution of robotics capabilities is transforming many industries, and construction is no exception. Robotics are helping to reinvent how buildings are manufactured by enhancing precision, consistency, and speed in automation. These new technologies are fundamental for ensuring greater efficiency and scalability in the production of modern-day buildings.
Within prefab modular construction, robots play a fundamental role in the handling of materials, assembly, quality control, and finishing. Utilisation of robots not only increases the safety of processes as well as efficiencies, but it also promotes less waste, reduced carbon usage, and lower labour costs. However, the effectiveness of robots in executing required tasks hinges on the compatibility of materials that interface with the operational framework of the machines.
Our extensive range of products includes numerous foam and tape solutions that can be customised to meet the specification requirements of robotic applications and facilitate robotic manipulation and handling. Products such as Dynafoam® are often applied to complex shapes. Dynafoam, a mono-component foam in place gasketing and cushioning material, is a preferred choice when parts are built with tighter, more challenging specifications, and it can be utilised with robotics for enhanced process efficiency, improved safety, and reduced waste.
Dynafoam can also be applied within sandwich panels where the gap is relatively small (up to 6–7 mm bead height max). Dynafoam enables process automation, providing both efficiency in application and cost savings compared to alternatives such as polyurethanes, PVC, or PE foam, which must be applied manually from rolls or spools.
In addition to Dynafoam, we offer two other technologies that may be suitable for robotic applications. The first technology is Norseal® Foam Profile Extrusions, and the second is long-length bonding tapes, which are supplied in spools. The foam profile extrusions are also long in length, do not have splicing, and can be used continuously during an automated process without the need to stop and change the material. The long-length bonding tapes are used with a specialised attachment that applies the bonding tape automatically with a robot or co-bot.
Our teams are well-prepared to modify roll configurations to ensure they fit required fixtures, remove liners, adjust colours, or modify the ease of roll winding and unwinding for smoother integration with modern robotic systems.
While robots stand out as integral allies for reshaping and improving the design and fabrication of modern buildings, tapes cannot be overlooked as enablers of modern-day robotic potential. Foam and tape solutions provide versatility. They are ripe for optimisation and seamless integration with robotic workflows.