A robot developed in Singapore that polishes the surface of newly-poured concrete slabs has been credited with saving 30% on construction labour costs on an innovation centre for Japanese contractor Kajima Construction in the city state.
The claim was made by Ms Low Yen Ling, Singapore’s minister of state for trade and industry, at the topping out ceremony for Kajima’s Lab for Global Engineering, Architecture and Real Estate, which Kajima calls “The Gear”, in the Changi Business Park.
Kajima worked with Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Polytechnic and local robot-maker Mega Plus Technology to develop the machine.
Thanks to the innovation, Kajima said it was on track to complete the S$100m facility on schedule in 2023, despite ongoing labour shortages made worse by the Covid pandemic, newspaper The Straits Times reported.
“Besides enhancing construction quality and safety at the Gear, the Concrete Finishing Robot can reduce construction manpower and labour cost by up to 30%,” Minister Low said at the 17 June ceremony.
She added that Kajima and state industrial developer JTC were “setting new standards for our built-environment industry”.
