FBR has announced its bricklaying and construction unit, dubbed Hadrian X, has officially departed Fremantle by sea, bound for the US.
FBR has announced its bricklaying and construction unit, dubbed Hadrian X, has officially departed Fremantle by sea, bound for the US.
The trip follows on from news in January that the robotic technology company had entered into a US joint venture with CRH Ventures Americas, a subsidiary of CRH PLC, which is one of America’s largest concrete block manufacturers.
Long-term, FBR is hopeful of eventually providing 300 Hadrian X units to enter the US construction market under the deal.
High Wycombe-based FBR told the market the Hadrian X unit is expected to reach the American state of Florida in two months, where it will be assessed by US Customs and Border Protection, along with completing a variety of engineering inspections.
Once this process is finalised, the Hadrian X unit will complete an outdoor site acceptance test, having already successfully completed its indoor site acceptance test in Perth.
The Hadrian X unit passed the indoor site acceptance test after executing an effective lay rate of 330 concrete blocks per hour – well above the target of 285 per hour.
Should it also pass the outdoor site acceptance test with flying colours, the Hadrian X unit will then be required to undertake its US demonstration program. This process involves the unit constructing walls for an agreed amount of single-storey homes.
FBR said it was close to production of additional next-generation Hadrian X units, due to the first US truck chassis arriving Down Under shortly.
With this acquisition, the company will be to assemble and commission the first US-specific Hadrian X unit.
FBR shares closed up 8.7 per cent, trading at 2.5 cents per share.
