Proptech Pioneer GROPYUS Collaborates with Automation Expert KUKA for Automated Modular Construction

The degree of automation is up to 86 percent. © GROPYUS

(IN BRIEF) GROPYUS, a proptech firm specializing in sustainable modular construction, and KUKA, an automation specialist, have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to create a fully automated and digitally managed production facility at GROPYUS’s Richen site in Germany. The investment, valued at a mid-double-digit million-euro range, will increase GROPYUS’s production capacity to over 3,500 apartments annually by the end of 2024. With 86% automation, wall and ceiling elements can be produced in record times. This partnership aims to accelerate construction processes, reduce costs, and make sustainable, bespoke buildings more accessible, addressing the housing shortfall and promoting environmental sustainability.

(PRESS RELEASE) AUGSBURG, 27-Sep-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — KUKA (ETR: KU2), one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial robots and systems for factory automation and part of Midea Group, and German-Austrian proptech company GROPYUS are set to redefine the construction industry with their groundbreaking collaboration. The two industry leaders have joined forces to establish a state-of-the-art, fully automated, and digitally managed production facility at the Richen site near Heilbronn, Germany. This investment, valued in the mid-double-digit million-euro range, marks a significant milestone in the construction sector, positioning GROPYUS as a leader in sustainable and modular construction.

The primary goal of this collaboration is to transform GROPYUS’s Richen facility into a cutting-edge, highly automated, and fully integrated manufacturing site. KUKA, renowned for its expertise in intelligent automation solutions, will provide a flexible, turnkey system featuring 45 robots and 12 AGVs (automated guided vehicles). Drawing from their extensive experience in both automated modular house construction and the automotive industry, KUKA is poised to play a pivotal role in this transformative venture.

GROPYUS, on the other hand, will oversee the complete operation of the facility and implement a task-based production management system. This strategic investment will enable GROPYUS to digitize its production processes entirely while significantly expanding its production capacity to encompass over 240,000 square meters of gross floor area, equivalent to more than 3,500 apartments. The full production capacity is slated for realization by the end of 2024, leading to the creation of 100 new highly skilled jobs at the Richen site.

One of the highlights of this collaboration is the substantial increase in automation, with GROPYUS achieving the impressive feat of manufacturing a wall element in just 17 minutes and a ceiling element in a mere 16 minutes. Markus Fuhrmann, CEO of GROPYUS, underscores the significance of this development, stating, “Going by current calculations, we can expect a shortfall of around 900,000 to one million apartments in Germany by 2025. In combination with digitized processes, modular construction can significantly accelerate the building of new homes while reducing costs. This collaboration with our experienced automation partner, KUKA, means we will be able to massively expand our production capacity by the end of next year – enabling us to manufacture an affordable, marketable, and sustainable product on an industrial scale.”

“As automation specialists, we’ve been driving an unprecedented evolution in the construction sector for many years. We’ve already been able to apply our specially developed applications and considerable process expertise outside of Europe. Being a global group headquartered in Augsburg, it’s all the more meaningful for us to now be working with GROPYUS in Germany to create a shining example for the whole of Europe. This project is setting new standards in flexibility and sustainability in automated, modular construction,” says Gerald Mies, CEO at KUKA Systems.

This landmark collaboration signifies a paradigm shift in the construction sector, as GROPYUS aims to make bespoke, sustainable buildings economically viable and scalable. By addressing both affordability and sustainability, GROPYUS is actively contributing to a more eco-friendly construction industry and increasing access to affordable housing. Furthermore, this investment in the Richen site reinforces Baden-Württemberg’s commitment to advancing economic development and sustainability in the region.

Media contact:

Ulrike Götz
Spokesperson Technology
KUKA Aktiengesellschaft, Zugspitzstraße 140, 86165 Augsburg, Germany
+49 821 797-3795
LinkedIn

SOURCE: KUKA AG