Penang cow wants to end careers of those who are in the construction industry

[Pfizer]

Updated: 05/20/2014 12:37 | By Channel NewsAsia

To save on construction costs, consider using robots: Khaw

SINGAPORE: In a blogpost today (May 20), National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan highlighted the use of robots as an example for potential productivity gains and labour cost savings in the construction industry.

"Robotics is not new, but we hardly see them in our construction sites. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will be happy to provide some funding support to help change the status quo," Mr Khaw wrote.

The tiling robot the minister was referring to was the robotic tiling prototype for automated floor tiling developed by researchers at the Singapore-ETH Centre Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) and ROB Technologies. He said the technology - still at a research stage and not commercially available - could reduce the use of manual labour by as much as 75 per cent and lead to "a four-fold jump in productivity".

The BCA said it plans to provide builders funding support once the tiling robots are ready for use.

"One of the most labour-intensive processes in construction is tiling. Each year, over 40 million tiles are laid in new construction projects here. There is therefore great potential to automate the tiling process and make it more labour-efficient," he wrote.

"If the robot becomes commercially available, the estimate is that the robotic tiling machine can lay tiles two to three times faster than the human tiler. An added advantage is that robots can deliver high precision and consistent quality.

"Such a robot will be able to work alongside workers at a construction site and do the menial tasks of laying floor tiles while workers focus on higher-value added work such as refilling and grouting the tiles, and cutting odd-size tiles to fit the corners.

"The arithmetics are impressive. While it takes two tilers two working days to complete a 3-room HDB flat, the same two tilers in two working days can do four such flats, if they have the help of four robots."

The technology may have benefits beyond productivity gains, Mr Khaw wrote, citing the possibility of reducing the risk of worksite accidents.

- CNA/es

 

[winners]

Automation and mechanization is the way to go. Just look at Japan with their credible utilization of robots. I've worked with FANUC and ABB robotics before and if applied well, it really saves the manpower and will be even more efficient than manual operation. However, the initial programing and subsequent tool change is a pain, although it gets easier with more practices.

 

[The_Hypocrite]

Most of this tiling is done by foreigners anyway,if robots can replace them, it is good news indeed,,however these foreigners are cheap labour and robots aint cheap,,will this replacement cost be too high?

 

[virus]

Most of this tiling is done by foreigners anyway,if robots can replace them, it is good news indeed,,however these foreigners are cheap labour and robots aint cheap,,will this replacement cost be too high?

$8 man is talking through his anus. most of the CONtractors r gamblers if not speculators and con artist. to ask them to invest such expensive machines is to ask for both hands and his c0ck. of cos not gg to happen. if they can borrow from EDB for such expensive item, they will not hesitate to take a loan and go invest in housing where the return is higher, by taking risk and patience then to depend on workers to bring the dough home.

 

[The_Hypocrite]

Tat is why I know this will not take off,,these shit construction companies are too dependent on cheap labour to ever change,,,,and there is no incentive for them to change,,,,

$8 man is talking through his anus. most of the CONtractors r gamblers if not speculators and con artist. to ask them to invest such expensive machines is to ask for both hands and his c0ck. of cos not gg to happen. if they can borrow from EDB for such expensive item, they will not hesitate to take a loan and go invest in housing where the return is higher, by taking risk and patience then to depend on workers to bring the dough home.

 

[Royalblood]

This is good news man. Most of these jobs are taken up by the annoying bangalas anyways.

I would very much prefer to have the robots around rather than these horny bastards bangala pricks. Apart from potential productivity gains, there will be Less overcrowding and less social problems with these bunch of bangala dickheads removed.

 

[jw5]

They should consider using robots for certain cabinet ministars' positions as well.
More likely than not the robots will be fastest, cheaperest and betterest.

 

[laksaboy]

Any savings on construction cost will not trickle down to the buyer.

 

[virus]

They should consider using robots for certain cabinet ministars' positions as well.
More likely than not the robots will be fastest, cheaperest and betterest.

at least guaranteed the bonking part will work, mebbe through in 9 speed dual entry vibrator

cheaper, better and songdest

 

[winnipegjets]

The construction companies here are addicted to cheap labour, thanks to the PAP policies. They have no incentive to be more capital intensive or find better ways to produce their products. The problem of labour cost had been identified decades ago.
Why? We are told that our government is the bestest. This is proof that we don't have a bestest government.