Few categories are as ripe for automation-driven disruption as construction. The industry is valued at around $2 trillion a year in the United States alone. Much of that work is strenuous, repetitive, and sometimes dangerous—precisely the kind of problems industrial robotics is designed to solve. The other thing that construction brings is a wide range of different challenges, which means more startups can operate in the space without being in direct competition.
Masonry robots aren't exactly an untapped concept. At the moment, Hadrian X is probably the most well-known player in space. The American company specializes in building structures from large blocks of concrete masonry. Based in Amsterdam Monumentalmeanwhile, it specializes in the more familiar variety of red clay.
The startup was founded in 2021 by the couple behind data visualization company Silk (now a Palantir joint venture). Monumental has already conducted limited pilot testing in its native Netherlands, including on the 15-meter exterior of an office building. Partnerships with 25 contractors followed, including low-income housing.
I can't speak much about the system's effectiveness beyond what I've seen in some video demonstrations, but I can say that the company appears to be tackling the problem from a variety of fronts, starting with an autonomous cart designed to support heavy loads. payloads. From there, another robot spreads liquid mortar and places bricks.
“At Monumental, we are working to help the industry address these challenges,” says co-founder and CEO Salar al Khafaji. “Our agile, intelligent and adaptive robots and software combine human expertise with robotic efficiency in a way the industry has never seen before.”
To celebrate its launch party, Monumental also announces a significant $25 million round, led by Plural and Hummingbird, with participation from Northzone, Foundamental and NP-Hard Ventures.
The funds will go toward hiring, expanding manufacturing, and diversifying the form of bricks/blocks its robots are capable of handling.