Few categories are as ripe for automation-driven disruption as manufacturing. The industry is valued at around $2 trillion a year in the US alone. Much of this work is laborious, repetitive and sometimes dangerous β exactly the kinds of problems industrial robotics is built to solve. The other thing manufacturing brings is a wide range of different challenges, meaning more startups can operate in the space without being in direct competition.
Bricklaying robots aren’t exactly an untapped idea. Right now, Hadrian X is probably the most well-known player in the space. The American company specializes in the construction of large concrete masonry blocks. based in Amsterdam Monumentalmeanwhile, he specializes in the more familiar variety of red clay.
The startup was founded in 2021 by the pair behind data visualization company Silk (now a Palantir affiliate). Monumental has already done limited pilots in its home country of the Netherlands, including the 15-meter outdoor office building. Partnerships with 25 contractors followed, including low-income housing.
I can’t speak much to the effectiveness of the system beyond what I’ve seen in a few video demos, but I can say that the company seems to be tackling the problem from several fronts, starting with an autonomous cart designed to carry heavy payloads. loads. From there, another robot spreads liquid mortar and places bricks.
βAt Monumental, we are working to help the industry address these challenges,β says co-founder and CEO Salar al Khafaji. “Our flexible, intelligent and adaptable robots and software combine human expertise with robotic efficiency in a way the industry has never seen before.”
To celebrate its party, Monumental is also announcing a sizable $25 million round, led by Plural and Hummingbird, with participation from Northzone, Foundamental, and NP-Hard Ventures.
The funding will go towards hiring, scaling up manufacturing and diversifying the way its robots can handle bricks/blocks.