Robotic technology company FBR Limited (ASX: FBR) has announced that its next-generation Hadrian X® bricklaying robot has successfully completed its factory acceptance test at the company’s facility in Perth.
The factory acceptance test is a key milestone governing a binding suite of agreements FBR has signed with CRH Ventures Americas Inc, a subsidiary of CRH plc, one of the largest concrete block suppliers in the United States.
The factory acceptance test criteria under the JV option program with CRH Ventures were as follows:
- completion of a test structure comprised of 751 rectified US-format concrete masonry blocks at an effective lay rate of 285 blocks per hour or more (measured from the time of the placement of the first block in the structure to the time of the placement of the last block in the structure, regardless of Hadrian X® uptime);
- utilising the tablet-based Human Machine Interface to operate the Hadrian X®; and
- with a crew of no more than three personnel to load and operate the Hadrian X®.
The completion of the factory acceptance test at an effective lay rate of 330 blocks per hour triggers the second demonstration program progress payment of US$800,000 from CRH Ventures, in line with FBR’s announcement released to the ASX on 18 January 2024.
Having completed the factory acceptance test, preparations are underway for the next-generation Hadrian X® to be shipped to Florida to conduct a site acceptance test. The site acceptance test criteria under the JV option program are as follows:
- completion of the same structure built in the factory acceptance test, this time incorporating bond beam blocks, at an effective lay rate of 285 blocks per hour or more;
- at an agreed location in Florida with a crew of no more than three personnel to load and operate the Hadrian X®; and
- meet applicable building standards.with confirmation from an independent structural engineer that the constructed walls of the test build are consistent with the design and meet applicable building standards.
A further payment of US$600,000 will become payable by CRH Ventures upon completion of the site acceptance test, with the remaining US$400,000 payable upon completion of the demonstration program.
