Haulotte has formed a strategic partnership with Builder Assist, a deeptech company focused on robotics for the construction sector, to advance the integration of the Surface Assist robotic arm onto mobile elevating work platforms. The companies are carrying out trials of the system in live construction environments where labour shortages, restricted access, repetitive operations and worker safety remain ongoing concerns. The initiative marks another step in Haulotte’s broader push into Construction robotics for elevated job site applications.
The Surface Assist system has been designed to support demanding operations such as overhead drilling, facade coating, painting and other repetitive tasks that expose workers to physical strain. Mounted on several Haulotte MEWP models, the robotic arm is currently being evaluated in conditions where accessibility and operator fatigue are significant operational challenges. The current phase relies on a pilot fleet intended to measure customer interest and determine the operational effectiveness of robotic solutions integrated directly with access equipment.
“A construction robot only makes sense if it operates where work is most demanding and exposed. We are delighted to collaborate with Haulotte to combine working-at-height expertise with robotics innovation, serving real construction use cases,” shared Alban BRISY, co-founder and CEO, Builder Assist.
The partnership follows Haulotte’s earlier collaboration with Autonomous Mobile Blast Paint (AMBP) on robotic cleaning, blasting and painting systems for shipyard environments. According to the company, the latest initiative supports its long-term innovation strategy of expanding MEWP capabilities through automation and digital technologies. Haulotte said it intends to continue developing an ecosystem of partners focused on high-risk and difficult-to-access operations through Construction robotics and embedded automation systems.
“The collaboration between AMBPR and Haulotte since 2020 has led to the development of a unique robotic solution dedicated to cleaning, blasting, and painting large vertical surfaces in the naval and industrial sectors. Thanks to the strong cooperation between AMBPR and Haulotte teams, as well as the reliability of Haulotte equipment, this solution enhances operator safety and reduces the environmental impact of operations carried out in particularly demanding environments,” said Stéphane RENOUARD, founder, AMBPR
“Embedded robotics opens up new perspectives for working-at-height applications. With Builder Assist, we are exploring solutions that can deliver tangible value on job sites, by combining access expertise, automation, and a deep understanding of field operations,” commented Philippe LUMINET, innovation director, Haulotte.